Nov. 17, 1923 
Termites of the Canal Zone 
283 
FAMILY KALOTBRMITIDAF 
Certain members of the family Kalotermitidae, such as species of 
Kalotermes and Cryptotermes, are very destructive to the interior wood¬ 
work of buildings and to furniture. They differ from other termites in 
that they attack dry wood—if any wood in a region where the relative 
humidity never goes below 70 per cent can become dry—and do not need 
a constant resource of moisture in order to continue their work. Hence all 
that is necessary for the beginning of an infestation is a crevice in wood¬ 
work or furniture where a fertilized female can secrete herself. Dudley 
and Beaumont (< 5 , 7, 8 ), taking advantage of this fact, used white ash 
blocks of dry wood shown in Plate 6, A, for making observations on 
Kalotermes marginipennis Latreille. 
Six species of termites in this family occur in Panama. Much trouble 
is experienced in obtaining forms for specific determination, since the 
owners of valuable infested furniture are usually adverse to tearing it 
apart in order to obtain the soldier caste. It is therefore necessary to 
watch for emergence of winged forms. 
Usually the furniture or woodwork is infested with species of this 
family before their presence is even suspected. In their work these in¬ 
sects, although they come very near to the surface of the wood, do not 
break through except at a very few places and then usually at an edge or 
comer of the wood. The holes that are made are only large enough to 
allow for the casting out of the characteristically sculptured or impressed 
pellets. The presence of these insects is often indicated by the small 
piles of pellets beneath infested wood. Likewise, through the sculptur¬ 
ing of the surface of these pellets, which is due to the impression imparted 
to them in the lower portion of the alimentary tract of the insects, it is 
possible to identify the genus of the insects excreting them (PI. 8, B, C). 
The following six species of this family have been recorded from the 
Canal Zone and Panama. Kalotermes marginipennis , Neotermes holmgreni , 
Cryptotermes brevicollis , C. dudleyi, C. longicollis , and C. thompsonae. 
Dudley and Beaumont (6, 7, 8 ) first called attention to the destruc¬ 
tiveness of termites of this family in Panama and stated that a first-class 
coach belonging to the Panama Railroad became so badly riddled by 
Kalotermes marginipennis as to be absolutely worthless. Beaumont also 
found the nymphs and soldiers of Cryptotermes longicollis working in a 
window sill in Panama. 
KALOTERMES MARGINIPENNIS 
This destructive termite occurs in both Central and North America. 
It not only injures the woodwork of buildings and other structures but 
attacks timber as well. The specimens from Panama differ somewhat 
from those in Texas but are apparently of the same species. 
SWARMING 7 
August Busck collected winged adults of Kalotermes marginipennis 
Latreille at trap lights on June 9, io, and 13, 1911, at Taboga Island, 
Republic of Panama. At Gamboa, Canal Zone, on May 14, 1919, winged 
adults were obtained by Mr. Dietz. 
7 This so-called swarming is the colonizing flight of the sexual adults. 
