8 
by the U. S. Department of Agri- 
culture Forest Insect Research. 
This collection, probably 
the second most valuable of its 
kind in the world, represents 
the work of more than h6 years 
during which Dr. Thomas E. Sny- 
der, retired Department of Agri- 
culture entomologist, has col- 
lected termites in the Western 
Hemisphere and has also obtained 
many Old World species by ex- 
change and gift. Among the speci- 
menfe are 9^-3 "type specimens" -- 
that is, individuals to which all 
others of the species must be 
referred for final identification. 
When Dr. Snyder started his col- 
lection in 19-15 there were only 
12 identified species of termites 
in the Smithsonian collections. 
Termites are found over most 
of the world except the Arctic 
and Antarctic, Dr. Snyder explains, 
and probably many kinds still re- 
main unknown. Only those that do 
damage to human structures have 
been intensively studied, and ex- 
termination of these is now a 
multimillion-dollar business in 
the United States. There is al- 
ways the danger, he says, that 
some foreign species may invade 
the country at any time, and there- 
fore means of immediate identifica- 
tion, such as is provided by the 
Smithsonian collection, may prove 
invaluable . 
Although termites are cus- 
tomarily referred to as "white 
ants," Dr. Snyder says, there is 
little, if any, relationship be- 
tween ants and termites. These 
two kinds of insects have developed 
only roughly similar body forms 
and ways of life by quite indepen- 
dent routes. Termites, he explains, 
are more nearly related to the 
roaches, which were among the ear- 
liest forms to appear on earth 
approximately 250,000,000 years 
ago. The termites, as indicated 
in fossil deposits, made their 
first appearance not much more than 
50,000,000 years ago and represent 
a long road from the primitive 
roaches. They have been termed 
"social cockroaches." The first 
ants did not make their appearance 
until about 30,000,000 years ago. 
They took on the environment and 
habits of the termites and, being 
more advanced organisms, soon drove 
the older creatures to a wholly 
subterranean habitat. The ant is 
much better equipped as a predatory 
animal . 
FORMER EMPLOYEE RECEIVES AWARD 
Miss Marjorie Kunze, a former 
S.I. employee, recently received 
an award for meritorious service 
at the Bureau of Ordnance Technical 
Library, Department of Defense. 
Miss Kunze formerly was li- 
brarian of the Smithsonian Astro- 
physical Laboratory. Her many 
friends here congratulate her and 
wish for her continued success. 
RELEASED 
F. M. Setzler has announced 
that on March 29 a special investi- 
gative Federal Grand Jury met for 
the last time. Frank was sworn in 
as one of the foremen of this 
special grand jury on September 30 , 
1954, and has been on call during 
the past year and a half. The jury 
examined 153 individual witnesses. 
