CASTE DIFFERENTIATION AMONG TERMITES

Abstract

The development of the five castes found in the nests of Amitermes atlanticus Fuller is described in this paper, together with some notes on the nasute soldier caste of Trinervitermes gemellus Sjöstedt. The investigations, carried out over a period of five years, lead to the conclusion that all newly hatched termites inherit the potentiality of growing up into any one of the castes and that the termites themselves can control the appearance of the various castes in the nest. The great majority of the young are treated in a way that leads to stunted growth and sterility and they become workers and soldiers; the other castes appear only as and when needed. The methods used in these investigations are described.