388 GERALD F. HILL. 



It has been stated above that true kings, i.e., de-alated, sexually mature imagines, 

 are often found in the nests as consorts of neoteinic queens, but true queens are 

 unknown in this species. The questions that naturally arise are : What becomes of 

 the countless thousands of female imagines (potential queens) which issue yearly 

 from most, but not all, termitaria ? Do none of them become the founders of new 

 colonies, as is the case with many species ? Is this species perpetuated solely by 

 neoteinic queens and true kings or neoteinic kings ? It is beyond doubt that the 

 vast majority of individuals of a colonising flight, i.e., potential true kings and 

 queens, succumb to the attacks of predacious ants, lizards and birds within a few 

 minutes of the commencement of their free hfe, but it is hardly conceivable that all are 

 irretrievably lost. Observations made during a period of two years, during which 

 many scores of nests have been examined at fairly frequent intervals, convince me 

 that the normal manner of reproduction is by the forms commonly found in the 

 nests, i.e., true and neoteinic kings and neoteinic queens. In seeking an explanation 

 for the apparent non-existence of true queens, one suggests itself as being the most 

 probable, namely, that the life of the winged forms, and probably of the workers 

 and soldiers also, is short, perhaps about two years in the case of the former, that 

 a small proportion escape destruction at the time of the colonising flight, mate and 

 become the parents of the colonies which for some time live in galleries in the soil. 

 Later, these colonies increase to such size that the construction of a termitarium 

 becomes possible, or perhaps necessary ; in the meantime, however, the founders 

 have lived their lives and their place in the community has been taken by neoteinics 

 derived from n3'mphs. This theory does not account for the presence of young true 

 kings in old termitaria, except in the manner suggested in a previous page, nor does 

 it explain why, if male imagines are sometimes retained in the community to be the 

 consorts of neoteinic queens, female imagines also are not retained to obviate the 

 necessity for bringing neoteinic queens into use. Explanations of these and other 

 phenomena in the economy of termites present difficulties which can be overcome only 

 by prolonged and careful field observations. 



The invasion of these termitaria by the common ant, Iridomyrmex sanguineus, 

 Forel, has been referred to in discussing the biology of Drepanotermes silvestrii, sp. n. 



Hamitermes perplexus, var. vicioriensis, nov. 



King. — Colour as in H. perplexus, sp. n., excepting that the antennae and tergites 

 of the abdomen are lighter (Dresden brown) ; sternites Dresden brown, the first 

 five distinctly darker at the sides than elsewhere, 6th-8th uniformly dark, no pale 

 marks visible ; the first seven tergites only have pale marks at each side, more or 

 less indistinct excepting on 3-6 inclusive ; sternum and pleurae argus brown. 



Head as in H. perplexus, excepting as follows : Ocelli smaller, fontanelle smaller, 

 linear extension rather longer. Thorax as in H. perplexus, except that the two 

 smaller lateral impressions on prothorax and the clear marks on metathorax are 

 wanting. Legs as in H. perplexus. Abdomen as in H. perplexus, excepting as noted 

 above. Measurements as in H. perplexus. 



Neoteinic Queen. — Head, thorax and wing-stumps light orange-yellow, sternites 

 and tergites of abdomen of the same colour ; remainder of abdomen and legs creamy ; 

 the whole insect clothed with fine, pale hairs. 



{a) Head longer than wide. Eyes small (0-18), pigmented in centre. Ocelli 

 small, situated as in king. Antennae 14-jointed, segmented as in king. Fontanelle 

 not a depression, but a broadly lanceolate scar, with a short straight median fine. 

 Thorax as in king, wing-pads of metanotum extending to the middle of the third 

 tergite. Legs with tibial spurs worn down to short, blunt stumps. Apices of the 

 first three tarsals heavily chitinised. Styli absent. (This appears to be a normal 

 queen of the second form.) 



Measurements: Total length, 12; head, with mandibles, 1-5 long, 1-22 wide; 

 prothorax, 0-65 long, 1 • 12 wide ; abdomen, 3-25 wide. 



