TRANSPORTATION OF LARGE NUMBERS OF THE TERMITE COPTOTERMES ACINACIFORMIS (FROGGATT) (ISOPTERA:RHINOTERMITIDAE) FOR LABORATORY TESTING

The collection of sufficiently large numbers of Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) for use in laboratory tests of wood preservatives is virtually impossible in the southern States of Australia where this termite does not build mound structures above ground. One method of solving the problem is to collect from above‐ground mounds in the northern tropical areas and to transport the termites quickly to the laboratory. This paper describes a transportation box capable of being carried onto an aircraft as hand luggage, in which more than 200,000 termites were successfully brought from Townsville to Melbourne—a distance of 1,648 miles (2,652 km).