On a.Sjyeciea of the G^e//?« Termltodesraus. 481 



LVI. — On a Second Indian Species of the Genus 

 Terniitodesmus (T. fletcheri, sp. n.). By STANLiiY IIlRST. 



(Published by permission of the Trustees of the British iluseum.) 



The genus Termitodesmus was founded by Prof. F. Silvestri 

 in 1911 for the reception of two interesting new raillipedes 

 found in termites* nests in ('eylon *. An Indian species 

 belonoring to this genus {T. lefroyi) was briefly described by 

 myself, in August of the same year, in this journal. 

 Mr. T. Bainbrigge-Fletcher has very kindly sent me a second 

 Indian species, which I describe below. 



Termitodesmus fletcheri, sp. n. 



Closely allied to T. lefroyi, Hirst, but easily distingui.sh- 

 able from that species by the presence of a transverse series 

 of large granules on each of the tergites. This row of 

 granules is situated at the posterior margin of the tergite, 

 and is restricted to the middle part of it ; towards the poste- 

 rior end of the body the series of granules become weaker, 

 and they are not present on the last tergites. This new 

 species is larger than 2\ lefroyi^ but tlie shape of its body is 

 very similar. First tergite furnished with a distinct median 

 groove, which is not very long and is situated a little in 

 advance of the posterior margin ; there is also an oblique 

 lateral impression on each side of this tergite, and sometimes 

 a second obsolete postero-lateral impression can be seen on 

 each side. Scales very like those of T. lefroyi, most of them 

 being circular or subcircular, but others ovate in shape; 

 apparently they are not placed quite so close together as is 

 the case in T. lefroyi. Shape of third segment of antenna 

 very like that of T. ceylonicus (as figured by Silvestii). 

 Colour pale cream (spirit-specimens). 



Measurements in mm. — Length of body 5, its width 3*3. 

 (Length of T. lefroyi 4'25, its width 2'8.) 



Maternal. — Seven specimens found in the run-ways of a 

 mound-building termite {Odontotermes zoallonensis, Wasra.?) 

 and of its inquilene {Microtermes sp., perhaps M. obesus, 

 Holmgr.) at Siiuguppa, in the Bellary District of the Madras 

 Presidency. Other specimens captured at the same time are 

 in Mr. T. Bainbrigge-Fletcher's collection. In his letter 



'oo^ 



* See K. Escherich's ' Termitenleben auf Ceylon," I'Jll, pp. 24.5-247, 

 figs. 6-J-67 ; and also Zool. Jahrb. (-Sy^t.) x.v.\. pp. 410-414, pis. ix.-xi. 



