TERMITES. 281 



Pronotum wide, with broadly rounded anterior angles, lateral 

 margins converging strongly behind, posterior margin slightly 

 excavated in the middle. Mesonotum more broadly excised behind 

 than the metanotum. Wing membrane minutely punctate, sparsely 

 hairy at the extremity, with a yellow subcostal streak. Radius- 

 sector with some short backwardly directed branches. Mediana 

 extending from the cubitus, with one, two, four, or six apical 

 branches, and often with some slender branches united to the 

 radius-sector. Cubitus with about sixteen branches, of which about 

 the seven innermost are thickened. Cerci present in the male. 

 Length, with wings, 27 mm. 

 Length, without wings, 12 to 13 mm. 

 Length of fore wing, 12 "5 mm. 

 Length of head, 2'7 mm. 

 Width of head, 2*59 mm. 

 Length of pronotum, 1-29 mm. 

 Breadth of pronotum, 2*52 mm. 



Locality, Peradeniya. 



Remarks. — 0. ceylonicus is readily distinguishable from other 

 Ceylon species by the extensive yellow area surrounding the 

 fontanelle. 



Odontotermes obscuriceps, Wasm. 



Imago : — Head dark castaneous. Fontanelle, two spots, and 

 the anterior angles of the front margin of the " transverse band " 

 rusty yellow. Basal portion of cljrpeus brownish. Antennae 

 brownish ; mouth parts rusty yellow. A T-shaped mark and two 

 shoulder spots on the pronotum yellow. Fore parts of the meso- 

 and metanotum paler than the hind parts. Dorsal surface of 

 abdomen brown ; ventral surface, especially in the middle, much 

 paler. Tibiae brownish. Wings yellowish brown, with brown 

 veins. A yellow subcostal line is present. 



Hair " fairly plentiful." The head partly with short hairs and 

 partly with longer bristles. 



Head broadly oval, narrowed in front. Area surrounding the 

 fontanelle strongly impressed. Fontanelle small, punctiform, with 

 a small longitudinal elevation in front of it. Compound eyes 

 of medium size, decidedly prominent. Ocelli fairly large, with a 

 raised inner edge : distant from the eyes by about their longer 

 diameter. Basal portion of clypeus large, distended, rather shorter 

 than half its width, convex behind, straight in front. Antennae 

 19-jointed ; third shorter than second ; fourth rather longer than 

 third, but shorter than second ; fifth as long as third. 



Pronotum moderately broad, with broadly rounded fore-angles ; a 

 slight median notch in front , widely excavated behind. Mesonotum 

 more broadly notched than the metanotum. Wings moderately 

 broad : membrane, finely punctate, sparsely hairy towards the tip. 

 Radius-sector sometimes with a " hind rib " ; also with shoft 



