FERTILE TERMITE SOLDIERS

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Abstract
Occasional specimens of California termites (Termopsis) were sexually mature, and yet externally presented the general appearance of the typical soldier. In a few cases these have been seen to copulate with normal substitute royal forms, and 2 soldier-like individuals were seen in the act of egg laying. The offspring of these last-named were carefully studied externally and internally, but displayed no apparent variation from the young of the usual neo-teinic and primary royal forms. Recently, several additional specimens have been collected, and while some of these are being kept under observation, others were dissected. The last-named showed the same state of sexual maturity as in primary kings and queens in other colonies at least 3 years of age. The suggestion is made that these sexually mature soldiers were stimulated, possibly by a special diet, as in the case of the usual substitute fertile insects, but at a somewhat later stage, so that their adult-soldier characteristics were only partially suppressed.

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