108 ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 12. N:0 15. 



bourine in Southern Queensland. It builds small dark nests 

 of similar type as M, excisus Mjöb.; winged insects were 

 obtained in large number in the nests in October. 



General yiew on the Australian Termite-Fauna. 



Our knowledge of the Australian termite-fauna on the 

 whole up to year 1918 must be said to be very scanty, not 

 more than 43 species being known. By my material alone, 

 the number of species bas been very nearly doubled, no less 

 than 36 species proving to be undescribed. But even this 

 number is very small compared with the great size of the 

 Australian continent with its variegated life conditions. I 

 do not doubt myself that a thorough survey of the Australian 

 termite fauna in the future will prove that a couple of 

 hundred species live within the continent. That so very 

 few species thrive in New Zealand (2) and in Tasmania (2) 

 it clearly due to the barder climate, though undoubtedly 

 more species will be discovered there. 



Of the 79 hitherto known Australian termites the ima- 

 gines of 29, the soldiers of 8 and the workers of 16 are yet 

 unknown. A monography of them would therefore be not 

 only difficult, but also incomplete at present. It is to be 

 hoped that future collectors in Australia will pay more 

 attention to this most interesting group of insects. 



The 79 Australian termite-species are distributed över the 

 four families in the following proportions. 



Fam. Mastotermitidce 1 sp. 



Fam. Protermitidce 22 spp. 



Fam. MesotermitidcB 9 spp. 



Fam. Metatermitidce 47 spp. 



Sum 79 spp. 



As regards the distribution of the species, it will be found 

 that many, if not most of the species are so far as we know 

 comparatively restricted in their range. Thus a very great 

 number of species are hitherto recorded only from a single 

 part of the continent. Only three species seem to have spread 

 fairly well all över the continent. These are Leucotermes 

 erox Frogg., Coptoterrnes lacteus Frogg. and Hamitermes 



