Economic entomology for the farmer Economic entomology for the economicentomolo00smit_0 Year: 1896 THE IXSECT WORLD. 65 Fig ing their galleries through the soil, often for great distances, and also inhabiting underground chambers. In woodland almost any log or decaying tree will be found swarming with these dirty yellowish-white insects, about one- fourth of an inch long, readily recognizable by their large heads and oval, obtusely- terminated abdomen. They are wingless, and when exposed to light seek at once to make their way back into darkness. These are workers, and blind; they ne
Economic entomology for the farmer Economic entomology for the economicentomolo00smit_0 Year: 1896 THE IXSECT WORLD. 65 Fig ing their galleries through the soil, often for great distances, and also inhabiting underground chambers. In woodland almost any log or decaying tree will be found swarming with these dirty yellowish-white insects, about one- fourth of an inch long, readily recognizable by their large heads and oval, obtusely- terminated abdomen. They are wingless, and when exposed to light seek at once to make their way back into darkness. These are workers, and blind; they never voluntarily come out of their gal- leries, all their wander- ing being in tunnels of enormous length run over or under ground in every direction from the main nest. If they must reach a point to which they cannot burrow, they build a covered way woody and excrementitious matter= Tertties flavipes.—a, larva ; b, winged male ; c, worker; d, soldier ; e, female ;/, pupa. of earth mixed with saliva, These workers are the most familiar to the casual obser\^er, and form much the greater pro- portion of the inhabitants of a nest or colony. They have distinct, hard, brown mandibles, not excessive in size, and can be thus readily distinguished from the soldiers, which are larger, with proportionately larger heads and very largely de\'eloped mandi- bles. The soldiers form a standing army whose duty it is to protect the community ; therefore, if we disturb a colony the workers at once run away, leaving the field to the soldiers, who are impotent enough in the daylight, blindly gnashing their jaws ; but are no doubt useful in the ordinary routine of Termite life. Early in spring we find, in addition, larger, winged individuals, chestnut-brown in color, and these are the true sexed forms, male and female. On a bright, warm day, when spring is well advanced, these individuals, which by the bye are furnished 5
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