Nov. 17, 1923 
Termites of the Canal Zone 
299 
The adults of N. pilifrons were taken at Trinidad River, Republic of 
Panama, on May 2; at Cabima, Republic of Panama, on May 20; and 
at Paraiso, Canal Zone, on April 24. 
Dudley and Beaumont (8) refer to one of the largest nests of “Miles- 
nasitermes” (a genus without a species, to include soldiers with beaks, 
i. e., “ soldier-nosed-termes ”) yet found upon the Isthmus. It was in 
a storehouse, and was 10 feet in height, 2)4 feet at its greatest width, 
and 1 % feet at its greatest depth; its estimated weight was 300 pounds. 
The wood of the building was badly injured, while galleries ran from 
this to other buildings. One gallery ran to a chapel and the organ was 
destroyed. 
It would be exceedingly interesting to learn what termite constructed 
this large nest. Quite possibly it was a species of Armitermes, since 
this invalid genus “Milesnasitermes” could include species in at least 
three genera, i. e., Nasutitermes Banks, Constrictotermes Holmgren, and 
Armitermes Wasmann. 
ANOPIrfOTlSRMES GRACILIS 
Anoplotermes gracilis is a small Central American species of the inter¬ 
esting and peculiar genus Anoplotermes and lacks the soldier caste, as 
in all species of this genus. No nests of it were found. 
Certain species of Anoplotermes construct tall, cylindrical, earthlike 
mounds in tropical regions. Possibly A. gracilis is the termite referred 
to by Dudley and Beaumont (8) as Termes columnar , which constructed a 
nest more than 5 feet in diameter at the base and nearly 4 feet in height 
at Ceroyal Station of the Panama Railroad. 14 These nests have been 
discovered only on the Pacific slope. 
Anoplotermes jumosus Hagen, of Mexico and Texas, however, does not 
construct earthlike mounds, at least not in Texas, but lives underground 
and apparently is a “social parasite,” (22), being found only with other 
species of termites and never in separate colonies. 
In some species of the genus Anoplotermes the exceptionally long jaws 
of the winged adult are significant, in view of the absence of the soldier 
caste. This is especially true in the species A. jumosus , which is prob¬ 
ably a social parasite and lives in the colonies of other species of termites. 
Anoplotermes gracilis will probably not prove to be a termite of great 
economic importance in the Canal Zone. If it constructs large mound 
nests, they have not as yet been found, and it is probable that this 
termite lives underground like its North American relative, A. jumosus . 
On May 11, 1921, at Las Sabanas, Zetek and Molino found workers of 
Anoplotermes sp. in a nest of Amitermes medius. They were not very 
abundant and were congregated thickly in small, white-lined pockets. 
Possibly the workers are of this species, which is only known from winged 
adults. Winged adults, soldiers, and workers of Eutermes exiguus also 
occurred in this nest. 
SWARMING 
The winged adults of this species were collected around lights in houses 
in Panama City and Ancon, Canal Zone, on April 19, 1919, the former 
collection being made by Molino and the latter by Dietz. The time of 
collection was between 6 and 7.30 p. m. in both cases. It will be noted 
14 Probably Corozal and nests of A mitermes mtdtus . 
