New Termites and Hitherto Unknown Castes from the Canal Zone, Panama 1
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NEW TERMITES AND HITHERTO UNKNOWN CASTES FROM THE CANAL ZONE, PANAMA 1 By THOS. E. SNYDER Entomologist, Forest Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology, United States Department of Agriculture INTRODUCTION lis Banks (fig. 1) and C. longicollis Banks convinced the writer that they The agricultural development of the should be included in Holmgren's sub- -Canal Zone and the clearing of the genus Lobitermes. C. dudleyi, on the dense growth of tropical jungle for other hand, is a Cryptotermes and sup- banana, pineapple, avocado, and cacao presses thompsonae Snyder. Neither plantations will result in the killing of Banks's figures nor his description of many termite colonies of species that C. dudleyi indicates require a moist habitat. The intense that the soldier has Tieat of the tropical sun will render the the anterior margin ■decaying logs, stumps, and branches of the pronotum ser- on the ground and even the soil too rate, the distinctive dry and unsuitable for them. Large character of C.thomp- areas of the Zone already have been sonae, but the writer cleared of termites by the formation of has since examined Banks's type. Gatun Lake, which flooded the land, FIG. l.—Kalotermes thereby drowning the termite colonies Interesting bio- (Lobitermes)brevicollis: in the soil. Nevertheless, termites will logical notes were ob- Mandibles of soldier, tained on the habits showing marginal always constitute a serious problem in teeth. (From draw- Panama, and damage to the woodwork of Cylindrotermes ing made by camera and contents of buildings as well as andRhynchotermes; lucida) to living vegetation must be carefully Cylindrotermes (PI. guarded against. 1, B) lives under very similar condi- The writer spent the month of Feb- tions to species of Ami termes (beau- ruary, 1924, in the Canal Zone and monti) and Leucotermes. adjacent portions of the Republic of The termite fauna of Barro Colorado Panama, where several new and strik- Island in Gatun Lake, Canal Zone, the ing termites were collected by Messrs. J. Zetek, I. Molino, and himself. Dur- ing his visit a new subgenus, Uniformi- termes, of the genus Nasutitermes Banks was found, which contains two types of soldiers of similar form or shape. Species were found in two rare American genera, namely, Cylindro- termes Holmgren from Bolivia (species, nordenskiöldi Holmgren) and Rhyncho- termes Holmgren (a subgenus of Armi- FIG. 2.—Kalotermes (Lobitermes) longicollis: Man' dxbles of soldier, showing marginal teeth. (From termes Wasmann, from South America), drawing made by camera lucida) hitherto monotypic (species, perarmatus Snyder) ; neither genus had been found site of the new tropical research sta- previously in Panama. tion, was especially rich and interest- The three species in the genus Cryp- ing; 20 species, representing 15 genera totermes Banks found in Panama in or subgenera, occurring. At present the latter part of the nineteenth cen- only 36 species of termites, represent- tury by Dudley and Beaumont, who ing 22 genera or subgenera, have been gave no definite locality records, were found in Panama but it is believed that rediscovered, and the hitherto unknown many more species occur. The out- deälated adult of Cryptotermes longicol- lying regions of the Republic of Panama lis Banks was found (fig. 2), which will have not been explored for termites be described after more material has and doubtless South American species been obtained. A study of C. brevicol- will be found there. To the writer, i Received for publication June 25,1924—issued January, 1925. Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. XXIX, No. 4 Washington, D. C. Aug. 15, 1924 Key No. K-139 (179) 180 Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. XXIX, No. 4 Central America is an extremely inter- driven to attack the crops and buildings esting field for biological and taxonomic of man. In the moist tropical jungle, studies of termites. subterranean termites inhabiting wood Damage by termites to the wood- on the ground are often killed by the work of buildings in the Canal Zone is intense heat of the sun in clearings for common and severe, while injury to crops. living shade and fruit trees and other As a rule termites of subterranean vegetation is serious, healthy living habit must come above or near the sur- trees being attacked and killed. The face of the ground to procure their food, Bureau of Entomology has therefore which consists of wood, vegetation, or begun a series of experiments in the roots. To solve this difficulty, these Canal Zone with wood preservative soft-bodied, blind insects take the treatments to prevent termite damage ground and moisture out with them. to buildings, as well as tests of insecti- Even when working in the tops of lofty cides to kill Coptotermes infesting trees they are thus "below ground." trees. J. Zetek, of this bureau, sta- For protection and moisture they tioned at Ancon, Canal Zone, and the construct earthlike carton shelter tube& writer are cooperating in this work, of excreted wood and soil cemented to- some of which, through the courtesy of gether. Occasionally these run along: the Institute fcr Research in Tropical the ground, but more often mount in America, will be conducted at the site extensive ramifications to the tops of of their station on 'Barro Colorado the trees, meandering along every Island. branch and twig, and here and there The seven new species are Kalotermes debouching into large covered chambers panamae, K. (Glyptotermes) angustus, K. which occupy half the girth of the trunk. (G.) barbouri, and K. (G.) emarginicollis, Most trees in some regions are thus in the family Kalotermitidae, and Ar- fantastically plastered over with tubes, mitermes (Armitermes) chagresi, A. galleries, chambers of earth, and carton (Rhynchotermes) perarmatus, and Nasu- nests. titermes ( Unifor miter mes) barro-colora- Hence it will be seen that wood, no densis, in the family Termitidae. matter how dry, may be attacked by A list of the known termites of the subterranean termites if there is access Canal Zone and adjacent Panama is to the wood from the soil whence they appended. The present paper will be can obtain moisture. followed shortly by a longer biological paper discussing these termites, their GEOGEAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION distribution, economic importance, and control. Termites, although widespread, are not to be found in arctic regions or above timber line on mountains. They HABITS AND HABITATS occur in the temperate regions of the Unlike ants, termites 2 are not domi- world and in the tropics and subtrop- nant insects. They seldom come above ics, where termites reach their max- ground to forage in the direct sunlight, imum development. They have not and species which do forage above the wide range of distribution of ants, ground are specially modified. The nor are there as many species of ter- deeply pigmented, sexual adults possess mites as there are of ants. eyes and are phototropic at the time The more permanent nests and more of the annual colonizing flight, known stable colonies occur in the tropics. as the "swarm"; but after the flight, Colonies in temperate regions have but which is generally of short duration, poorly defined nests and are more the deälated adults rapidly become mobile; in the tropics specialized nest thigmotropic and seek shelter in or structures are the rule. under decaying wood on the ground or SOCIAL LIFE in crevices in dead trees. Most ter- mites are blind and live hidden within Unlike colonies of ants, termite col- wood, underground, or in carton tree onies are societies of sexual and sterile nests or mound nests on the ground. castes of both sexes. The male con- Colonies occur under a great variety tinues to cohabit with the female and of habitats—in the sands near sea copulation is repeated at intervals coasts, in forests, swamps, plains, arid throughout life. Although soft-bodied deserts, fields, orchards, and cities. By and usually blind and sensitive to light, the clearing of forest land in temperate termites are the longest-lived of all regions, subterranean termites are often insects. Reproductive adults may live 2 Termites, or "white ants," are termed "comixen" or "comején" in Cuba and Spanish Cen- tral America and South America, but are termed "cupim" in Brazil. New Termitesf rom the Canal Zone Plate 1 A.—Armitermes (Rhyndiolermrs) iirranimliix: Work i» decaying log on ground in jungle. B.— Cylivdrntfrmex narden'kiöldi: Work in branch on ground in inngle. C, D.—MiroiernUi paaamaemh: Eitorior und interior views of nest within dead coconut palm tree on ground where reproductive forms were found, Largo Remo Island, Canal Zone. Photographs by Zetek and Molino. 182 Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. XXIX, No. 4 for 25 years or more. There is a well- galleries. No internal insect parasites defined division of labor among work- of termites have been found and possi- ers, soldiers, and reproductive forms; bly this is due to the fact that termites all castes are polymorphic. have no resting stage (as immobile larvse or pupse) and the young or ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE nymphs are constantly active, except for short molting periods or quiescent Termites are very destructive to the stages. crops, habitations, and other works of man and cause millions of dollars worth ANIMAL TREDATORS of damage. The greatest usefulness of termites is in reducing wood to A great variety of odd and specially humus and turning over and aerating adapted animals prey on termites. the soil. They hasten the decompo- The most interesting of these are the sition of organic matter such as dead anteaters, and America contains several trees, decaying logs, and stumps, thus species of these peculiar mammals, enriching the soil. In the tropics of the largest of which is Myrmecophaga Africa and India termites plow and tridactyla Linnaeus. Dr.