363 



ON SOME AUSTRALIAN TERMITES OF THE GENERA 

 DREPANOTERMES, HAMITERMES AND LEUCOTERMES. 



By Gerald F. Hill, F.E.S. 



(Plates IX-XII.) 



This paper is intended as the first of a series in which it is proposed to record 

 the results of an examination of a large collection of termites from various parts of 

 the Australian continent. The greater part of this collection has been gathered 

 in the northern districts of the Northern Territory, and in North Queensland, but 

 during the past 3'ear it has been considerably increased by the addition of numerous 

 small collections received from correspondents in Victoria, Western Australia and 

 South Queensland, and now contains individuals from over 800 colonies. Through 

 the courtesy of the authorities of the South Australian Museum I have been able 

 to examine a number of co-type specimens W'hich have been of the greatest assistance 

 in clearing up many doubtful identifications. In addition to these, I have been 

 able to study many species from localities not represented in my own collection. 



For various reasons it has not been found practicable to study the species contained 

 in these collections in systematic order ; in many instances imagines, which are 

 sometimes essential to satisfactory determination of species, are wanting; in others, 

 reference to types or authenticated specimens of previously described species is 

 necessary in order to obviate the possibility of creating synonymy. It is proposed, 

 therefore, to deal with the various species more or less at random, leaving the pre- 

 paration of a more comprehensive work until such time as our knowledge of the 

 Australian termite fauna is much more complete than it is now. 



Dr. Eric Mjoberg (1920) has recently added no less than 36 new species to 

 those previously known from Australia and New Zealand, and has otherwise much 

 increased our knowledge of the order. He lists 80 species, exclusive of some which 

 have been too imperfectly described for identification, as comprising the termite fauna 

 of Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. To this list, however, should be added 

 two old described species, viz., Calofermes convexus, Walker, and C. obscurus, Walker, 

 the types of which are still in existence, Leucotermes paradoxus, Frogg., and eight 

 Northern Territory species described by me in 1915. 



Eight new species, one new variety, and one hitherto unknown imago are described 

 in the present paper, leaving at least 20 new species in the writer's collection to be 

 dealt with. In addition to the latter number there are several species which cannot 

 be satisfactorily described until more complete material is available for study. 



A critical examination of a large collection of Hamitermes, Drepanotermes, Leuco- 

 termes, Rhinotermes and Coptotermes, has shown conclusively that in many species 

 determinations cannot be made satisfactorily^ if at all, from the soldier and worker 

 castes alone. This fact will be made clear in this and subsequent papers. 



Although aware of Fuller's recent paper (1920) on the antennae of termites, I 

 have followed recent writers on the Australian species in regarding the number and 

 form of the joints of this organ as possessing considerable taxonomic value. While 

 due allowance must be made for the variations which certainly do exist in the 

 antennae of nest-series, and not infrequently in the antennae of individuals, I see 

 no reason at present for departing from the general practice of referring in some 

 detail to antennal characters in descriptions of new species. 



The wing measurements recorded in this paper were taken from the humeral 

 suture to the apex. Head lengths, excepting where otherwise stated, are from the 

 posterior margin of the head to the apex of the mandibles. Measurements are given 

 in millimetres. 



The type series, unless the contrary is stated, are in the author's collection. 



(5296) Wt. P.8/170 1,000 1/22 Harrow G. 75/1. 2E 



