TERMITES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN REGION. 
species;- Townsville, 19.1.20: Following a heavy fall of rain on 
the previous night, a great number of imagos were seen about 8 a.m., 
either on the wing or running about the ground or fences in de-alated 
])airs. In most instances de-alation was effected by the wings 
adhering to wet fences or grass ; in others in the usual way, i.e., by 
a backward thrust of the wings against the ground, first on one sifle 
and then on the other. The source of the flight could not be 
ascertained, but it appeared that “ swarming ” was taking place 
simultaneously from many colonies situated in the soil near the 
heavily infested and more or less dilapidated fence enclosing the 
allotment. The life of most of the individuals taking part in the 
flight was very short, owing to the attacks of small ants {Pheulole 
megacephale) which pounced upon most of them as soon as they 
settled on ground or fences after their short, erratic flight. Swarm- 
ing ” continued throughout the morning, but it was not iintil^noon 
that the actual emergence from the g 
- - ^round was witnessed. About 
this time many imagos were seen Hying from under the house, which 
was built 4 feet from the ground on blocks, and they were traced to 
a small circular opening in the sandy soil near one of the supporting 
piles. Three or four soldiers and about a dozen workers were con- 
gregated outside the opening, from which the imagos fluttered in 
rapid succession. A search was made for the nest, but it was not 
found until the following year, when it became necessary to replace 
the pile owing to its ])artial destruction by McintoteTiues. In the 
interval the soil in the immediate vicinity had been jioisoned with 
arsenite of soda and all traces of termite life had disaiipeared. 1 he 
nest consisted of a small mass of cells constructed of a woody com- 
position and occupving a portion of the space formerly tekeii up bv 
the sapwood. On' 10th December of the same year, while the soi 
was still damp from heavy showers which fell on the 8th, diurnal 
swarming ’ ivas again observed on this allotment. In many cases 
there were as manv as four surface openings to each colony, from 
which the imagos poured as rapidly as they could pass out ; in 
others there was but a single opening. Workers were plentiful near 
the exits, but soldiers were either scarce or absent. No tiirthei 
“ swarming took place during the remainder of the wet season o 
1920-1921 but on 13th March several alate imagos were captured 
in the covered-ways on the adjacent fences. 'Phe next - swarming 
occurred here from 25th to 29th December following, between which 
dates over 5 inches of rain fell, mostly m |eavy showers of short 
duration 'Phe flights emerged between 8.30 a.m. and b ]).m. and 
alwik Iran 'ealteh a ahower. On -261, and 27th yve.nber. 
1920' and 9th November. 1922, several colonies, inchiding many 
aiate imanos were found on Magnetic Island (4 miles froin lowns- 
'ville) in dead' tree trunks on the flat sandy country near Die beach, 
and in the stems of small dead shrubs on the hill-sides. 1 he latter 
were almost completely destroyed from the roots to the extremity 
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