Viewing page 125 of 171
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
8 by the U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Insect Research. This collection, probably the second most valuable of its kind in the world, represents the work of more than 46 years during which Dr. Thomas E. Snyder, retired Department of Agriculture entomologist, has collected termites in the Western Hemisphere and has also obtained many Old World species by exchange and gift. Among the specimens are 943 "type specimens" -- that is, individuals to which all others of the species must be referred for final identification. When Dr. Snyder started his collection in 1915 there were only 12 identified species of termites in the Smithsonian collections. Termites are found over most of the world except the Artic and Antarctic, Dr. Snyder explains, and probably many kinds still remain unknown. Only those that do damage to human structures have been intensively studied, and extermination of these is now a multimillion-dollar business in the United States. There is always the danger, he says, that some foreign species may invade the country at any time, and therefore means of immediate identification, such as is provided by the Smithsonian collection, may prove invaluable. Although termites are customarily referred to as "white ants," Dr. Snyder says, there is little, if any, relationship between ants and termites. These two kinds of insects have developed only roughly similar body forms and ways of life by quite independent routes. Termites, he explains, are more nearly related to the roaches, which were among the earliest forms to appear on earth approximately 250,000,000 years ago. The termites, as indicated in fossil deposits, made their first appearance not much more than 50,000,000 years ago and represent a long road from the primitive roaches. They have been termed "social cockroaches." The first ants did not make their appearance until about 30,000,000 years ago. They took on the environment and habits of the termites and, being more advanced organisms, soon drove the older creatures to a wholly subterranean habitat. The ant is much better equipped as a predatory animal. --- FORMER EMPLOYEE RECEIVES AWARD Miss Marjorie Kunze, a former S.I. employee, recently received an award for meritorious service at the Bureau of Ordnance Technical Library, Department of Defense. Miss Kunze formerly was librarian of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Laboratory. Her many friends here congratulate her and wish for her continued success. --- RELEASED F.M. Setzler has announced that on March 29 a special investigative Federal Grand Jury met for the last time. Frank was sworn in as one of the foremen of this special grand jury on September 30, 1954, and has been on call during the past year and a half. The jury examined 153 individual witnesses,
