- 2 - 
buildings, causing much damage throughout the Neotropic 
very variable and in need of careful study for accurate 
mg much damage throughout the Neotropics- 
; a genus that is 
species diagnoses 
Nasutiterme s costal i^S)- the termite that builds large, dark-brown carton 
nests on trees, with conspicuous dark covered runways leading to foraging 
sites; may frequently enter buildings when food supplies outside are reduced, 
causing damage 
In addition to these "pest" species reported by Snyder, Dominica has an amazing¬ 
ly rich array of dry-wood termites, vital to ecosystem functioning and vulnerable 
to extinction if habitat destruction occurs; reported from Dominica for the first 
time, as folows : 
V 
Incisitermes n r. inchsus - a very large kalotermitid living in sound dead wood 
in forests near the Cabrits and around Souffriere 
Incisitermes snyderi - an ecologically-versatile, very successful dry-wood termite 
found on most of the Caribbean islands 
Incisitermes sp.(?)- another large dry-wood termite, possibly a new species 
1 
Rugiterm.es sp.- a genus of termites found previously only in northern South Ameri¬ 
can, Central America and some of the Pacific islands 
Glypt ot ermes prob. pubescens — a dry—wood termite whose soldiers have stonne 1 '— '£ 
shaped heads that close off chambers in the wood against ant attack 
Nasutitermes ephratae - a carton-nest building termite ("duck ant") that lives in 
the area devoted to Bay OH production, beside the road from Portsmouth; the nest 
has a smoother surface that the nest of N. costalis . 
Slnce I was unable to collect in the cactus-growing areas, in the well-developed 
forest areas near La Plaine, and in some of the areas used for agriculture pro¬ 
duction, I am sure that I missed many species. At any rate, this is a rich and - 
diverse termite fauna. .It shows exciting relationships with the fauna of Guyana 
and other northern South American countries. A proper appraisal of the biodiversit 
exhibited by the termites of Dominica will require systematic sampling, preferably 
with the aid of a competent botanist. It is an important fauna, well worth preser¬ 
ving. 
Thank you for the many courtesies I enjoyed through you; I hope to write individual 
friends as work pressures let up. 
Please call Charles Pierre and give him my greetings, that was an excellent field 
trip! Also, please tell Phillip Atkinson out at Springfield that Don Davis says 
that the damage on the sample bay leaves is the work of some insect other than a 
Lepidopteran leaf—miner, maybe a beetle. Keep a watch, and collect further stages 
in alcohol. 
A detailed account will follow after comparisons with sufficient museum material. 
Good wishes for success in your ventures. 
Sincerely, 
