1965] 
Netting — Zootermopsis 
123 
This example, together with data accompanying the collections of 
other colonies, demonstrates what is probably the usual way in which 
this termite initiates its attacks on living trees. Several of the larger 
trees commonly suffer mutilations by windstorms, particularly cotton- 
wood and willow. These open wounds may then provide focal points 
for the colonizing alates. This approach is reminiscent of the method 
by which N eotermes tectonae Damm. attacks living teak trees via 
dead branches, snags and wounds (Kalshoven, 1959). It remains to 
be determined, however, whether odors of freshly exposed wood or 
fermenting sap are actually attractive, and whether a fungous invasion 
is a prerequisite for the establishment of a colony. 
Colony size and soldier-nymph ratio. Table 2 summarizes the 
composition of the two colonies which were investigated in detail. 
Since they were both established in laboratory nests, the individuals 
were quickly sorted into rough size-classes and counted ; no attempt 
was made to determine the number of instars represented. The king 
and queen were not found in the Patagonia colony and no eggs were 
found in either colony. Although supplementary reproductives have 
been reported to be common in colonies of the other two species 
(Castle, 1934), none were found here. In the Patagonia colony, three 
months before the flight period, nymphs with wing pads of three 
different lengths were conspicuous: 200 pre- alates or nymphs in the 
penultimate instar and 162 with wing pads of short and intermediate 
lengths. The total number of alates eventually produced by this 
colony in the laboratory was not determined. The colony contained 
a total of 22 soldiers (2 small) and 1120 nymphs, with a soldier-nymph 
ratio of 1 to 51. In the colony from Hereford, three months after 
the flight period, none of the nymphs bore conspicuous wing pads. 
This colony contained 26 soldiers and 1058 nymphs, making a soldier- 
nymph ratio of 1 to 41. These counts are only one third to one-half 
the maximum colony size reported for Z. angusticollis , allhough the 
soldier-nymph ratio is about the same (Castle, 1934). 
Insects associated with the colony. Among many miscellaneous 
insects and mites found within the galleries of the two large colonies, 
two deserve mention because the association may be more than casual. 
At least 19 small (2-5 mm.) cockroaches were found fairly evenly 
distributed through the galleries in the limb from Patagonia. Ashley 
Figure 3. Longitudinal section shows a reconstruction of the galleries of 
Zootermopsis laticeps in the trunk of a living willow, Hereford, Ariz. The 
actual numbers of nymphs (N) and soldiers (S) are indicated in each 
segment. Cross sections represent tracings of the galleries in the five cuts 
AA to EE. 
