TERMITID7E. 
LI5 
Termitid^J — Termites. 
Four large wings, in repose lying flat on the dorsum; three free 
thoracic segments. Anal cerci are present . Social , with 
marked polymorphism of asexual individuals. 
These little insects are familiar chiefly from their depredations and 
are practically never seen except in the winged form, unless looked for. 
They are clearly distinct from all other Neuroptera 
by their habits, and from social Hymenoptera 
by their structure. The antennae are short 
and straight. The segments of the thorax are 
distinct, the abdomen moderately large with a 
pair of cerci. The legs are formed for running, 
the mouthparts for biting. The < olour of nearly 
all is the dull white of insects which live always 
in concealment, and the integv nent is corresr 
pondingly soft; only in those wing cd individuals 
which emerge to the air is the kin hardened 
and the usual colour of such insects is a deep 
chestnut brown. 
Fig. 47 —Term es obesus, 
WINCED FORM. X 2. 
The most striking feature of the termites is 
the great development of the social system. 
The nest is peopled and managed by the tiny workers, small insects, 
sexually immature, which are active and do the necessary work of 
the nest; there are also a number of similarly sexless indivi¬ 
duals, usually with larger heads and more prominent jaws, whose 
function apparently is the defence of the nest and the overseeing 
of the work of the nest carried on by the workers. As neither of these 
castes can usually reproduce, a limited number of sexual individuals 
are maintained, namely a wingless mature and fertilised queen, a 
wingless mature male, reserve immature queens and males. These 
suffice for the peopling of the nest and the establishment of nev r nests 
is provided for by the production of large numbers of winged ma \s and 
females at a special season of the year, 
