158 
All the older houses in Kuala Lumpor are constructed almost 
entirely of wood, and it may safely be said that few if any of these are 
free from the insidious work of termites. 
It is outside the scope of this paper to discuss those species which 
are of domestic importance, and all observations made concern Tenues 
gestroi only, a species as far as I know not yet found in houses, but 
which attacks among other trees the cultivated Para, and Rambong 
rubber. ( Hevea braziliensis and Ficus elastica). As much confusion 
however exists among the planters here relative to the diffeience 
obtaining between the various species of Termites and their habits, 
and since the ability to distinguish Terme gestroi is of great ntipor twice, 
a short account of the several species found on Rubber Estates, 
together with description of the various castes found in the Termitana 
will be of much practical use. 
A great deal of the existing confusion has probably been introduced 
by the common belief that T. gestroi confines its attacks to living wood, 
and that no other species of Termite is to be found on the trunk of Para 
Rubber trees. 
This idea is not only erroneous but very misleading, lermes 
gestroi attacks both living and dead wood, the latter in all stages of 
decay, and other species of Termites are to be found on rubber trees. 
Previously the mere fact of finding a species of termite m dead 
wood was considered by most planters to be a sufficient criterion to 
conclude that it would- not attack rubber, and on the other hand any 
Termite runs found on a Rubber tree were imagined to contain lermes 
gestroi , the tree being dealt with accordingly. 
Rut in the first instance the termite found in the dead wood may 
have been T. gestroi, and in the second case the runs on the rubber 
tree may have contained only species which was devouring the waste 
bark and doing no harm whatever. The importance ot distinguishing 
T. gestroi from any of the others is thus evident. 
On page 161 is given a short description of the soldier of T gestroi 
which it is believed will be of use to those who wish to identify this 
Of the different castes found within the Termitaria (termite nest) 
it is of importance to those whom it concerns from an economic point 
of view to be acquainted with at least the soldier and worker, especially 
the former as the distinction between species applies only to this caste 
The number of castes contained within the nest of any species of 
Termite often differs according to the species. The maximum number 
present is King, Queen, Soldier, Worker, adult males and females, and 
undifferentiated males and females. 
It is here only necessary to mention that the soldier of T. geshci 
may be distinguished by its larger head, which is usually chitnnzed 
(hardened), and by its possessing a pair of powerful mandibles. 
Towards the latter end of the year a certain number of individuals 
reach maturity, vacate their nests, and form what are known as 
swarms. This nuptial flight which with most^ species here takes place 
between September and December is to provide additional nests with 
Queens or to form new colonies. 
