479 
an>- serious damage, being more of a nuisance from the nips the 
powerful mandibles of the soldiers can inflict on the coolies pluck- 
ing the nuts. 
When the plantations are allowed to grow up in grass, the 
termites do not seem to ascend the trees. 
Te rmes M a lay a n u s . 
This is the species usually written of under the name of Termes 
bellicosus. whfch is an allied form, confined to Africa. The nest 
of the species varies much in shape according to the age of the 
community and the type of soil in which it has been built, but 
large mounds may be as much as six feet high and thirty feet in 
circumference, it has been well described and figured by Havil- 
land tjourn. Linn. Soc. Zool., XXVI., pp. 3&i et seq.) and I can 
confirm his observations in every respect. 
The species constructs globular honey-combed masses ot 
comminuted woody fibre and cultivates a species of fungus thereon, 
on which the young are fed. There is not the slightest evidence 
that this species does any harm to living plants, and much to the 
contrary, and it is a very moot point as to whether the money 
spent in eradicating their nests might not be better employed in 
other directions. Should, however, the nests be destroyed c/are 
should he taken that the whole mound is thoroughly levelled and 
the earth well broken up and exposed to the sun. It is of no use 
capturing the king and queen, as the community possesses the 
power of rapidly replacing them by special treatment of certain 
larval forms, the lenticular chambers seen on the sides of road* 
cuttings, etc., are in the majority of instances young communities 
or colonies from a large mound either of this or a closely allied 
species. 
Termes paliidus. 
A very much smaller species generally found nesting in the 
outer shell of the mounds of the preceding species. It also is a 
fungus grower and appears to be equally harmless. 
Termes sulphureus. 
A small species readily recognised by its arched abdomen, 
which is coloured pale primrose yellow. The nests of old and 
undisturbed communities are roughly cylindrical, tapering some- 
what at the summit. Large nests are four or five feet in height 
and rather less in diameter, and are composed of a blackish grey 
material, more honey-combed and with far less earthy matter 
than that forming the nests of T. malayanus, and often excessively 
hard. The species is commoner on hill than on flat land and is 
not injurious. 
Termes lacessitus. 
Occasionally seen on the trunks of Para and Rambong but not 
doing any damage. Nest of papery material, usually on trees and 
shrubs in secondary jungle. A species of no economic importance. 
