. African invertebrates : a journal of biodiversity research. Invertebrates -- Africa; Biological diversity -- Africa; Biological diversity. OBSERVATIONS ON SOME SOUTH AFRICAN TERMITES. 34T Text-fig. 4. The females came to rest first, alighting here and there- upon grass stems—both long and short—and immediately took up a position at the apex of the stem, with head down- wards and wings closely folded. No particular inflation of the abdomen could be noticed, but it was obvious that some' sense other than sight alone guided the male insects. When a female alighted, a male was soon to be noticed
. African invertebrates : a journal of biodiversity research. Invertebrates -- Africa; Biological diversity -- Africa; Biological diversity. OBSERVATIONS ON SOME SOUTH AFRICAN TERMITES. 34T Text-fig. 4. The females came to rest first, alighting here and there- upon grass stems—both long and short—and immediately took up a position at the apex of the stem, with head down- wards and wings closely folded. No particular inflation of the abdomen could be noticed, but it was obvious that some' sense other than sight alone guided the male insects. When a female alighted, a male was soon to be noticed fluttering low over the herbage. This flight was seen to be most erratic, although generally round and about the centre represented by the female. Often the male would fly close by and attempt to alight upon an adjacent stem —sometimes even doing so—but only to fly off, low across the grass tops for ten to twenty feet. Ultimately the male manages to locate the female, and settles be- low her upon the same stem. He at once crawls up beside her and rapidly passes the mouth-parts across the region between the cerci and touching the cerci them- selves. Almost simultaneously The mating of Termes vul- with this action both insects dea- late and the female begins to crawl downwards, the male following. In this attitude the insects progress until the female finds a site suitable for burrowing; the male never more than just keeps in touch with her. When burrowing commences the male takes his place beside the female, and in loose soil the pair soon become lost to sight. Pairs of this species did not thrive in the observa- tion jars, but they constructed cells, and eggs were laid within a feAv days. One pair with a few young May 25th, garis. Female attitude, x f. in calling; Termes incertus Hagen.—It would appear that shortly. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appear
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Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1900, bookcollectionbiodiversity, bookdecade1910
