ERIC MJÖBERG, ISOPTERA. 97 



line in front, tapering- on the sides, emarginate at the hind- 

 margin, thickly hairy. 



Measurements: Length of body 18 mm, length of head 

 0,8 mm, breadth of head 0,8 4 mm, length of prothorax 

 0,2 9 mm, breadth of prothorax 0,7 4 mm, breadth of abdomen 

 4 mm. 



This species is closely allied to the following one; it is 

 easily identified by the very long and narrow head and the 

 characteristio profile with the very large and sharp frontal 

 process, which is more turned-up at the tip than in 

 the following M. Alleni n. sp. It dwells in the open dry 

 savannah forest country near Laura and the surrounding 

 regions in Cape York Peninsula, where it builds regular nests 



Text Fig. 47. Head and prothorax of soldier of 

 Mirotermes Cheeli Mjöb. variety from Laura, N. Q. 



of black brittle material on the base of tree-trunks (see Plate 

 5, Fig. 2), or on the ground direct, as was the case with 

 a nest near Hann Creek. It resembles somewhat the nest 

 of Microcerotermes Tiirneri Frogg., is about 35 cm in height and 

 as large in diameter near the base. When built on trees it is 

 generally more elongate. Three queens were found in the 

 ground-nest in September in the centre near the ground. 



Some soldiers from a black nest on a tree-trunk at Laura 

 are slightly different in profile and have a more straight 

 frontal process; the head itself seems to be slightly lower 

 behind in the profile and slightly more impressed across 

 the middle (Text Fig. 47). The anterior corners of labrum are 

 rounded; I regard it preliminarily as a variety. 



Arkiv för zoologi. Bd 12. N:o 15. 



