BT G. F. HILL. 155 



EuTERJiES LONGiPENNis Hill. (Plate xsiv., fig. 2.) 

 Proe. Linn. Soe. N.S.W., xl., 1915, p. 104. 



The type locality for this species is Koolpingah Station, about 30 miles S.E. 

 of Danvin, N.T. A recent examination of a large number of nest-series shows 

 that it occurs commonly in the vicinity of Dai-win and Stapleton (69 miles 

 south of Darwin), generally on low-lying, stiff grey or black soils. It is a pest 

 of considerable importance, since it readily attacks fence-posts, house-blocks and 

 bridge piles in badly-drained heavy soils. In such localities one frequently finds 

 fence-posts and dead stumps of trees felled by timber-cutters encased in a hard 

 clayey sheath, which is carried over the top to form a conical apes (PI. xxiv., 

 fig. 2). As the work of destruction proceeds, the entire mass of wood is re- 

 placed by a eolunm of hard clay and triturated wood, which is easily pushed 

 over but not readily crumbled. I have not found a queen in any of the nests 

 examined. Fully developed alate forms were found in the nests from 6th to 

 21st November, when there were generally present a number of nymphs in the 

 stage preceding the final moult. The latter doubtless mature rapidly, as is known 

 to be the ease in many other species, and leave the colony with the earlier 

 developed winged individuals soon after the fii'st heavy rains. 



"Swarming'" has not been observed, nor have the imagos been captured in 

 the free-living state. 



HliiiiTERMES DARWixi, u.sp. (Text-figs. 28-33.) 



Imago. 

 Not known. 



Soldier. (Text-fig's. 28-31.) 



Colour: Head xanthine orange with broad ochraceous orange area extending 

 from the front posteriorly; labi-um mustard yellow; mandibles mahogany, shading 

 at base to the colour of head; mouth parts, antennae, legs and pronotum yellow 

 ochre; abdomen gi-eyish, due to contents of stomach. 



Head (Text-fig's. 28, 29) large, broadly rounded behind, slightly rounded on 

 the sides, widest about the middle, bearing very few stout reddish setae, chiefly 

 on the front. Clypeus large, about two-fifths as long as wide, slightly emarginate 

 in front, divided by a deep and wide median furrow, which passes into the frons. 

 Labrum large, wide at base, slightly rounded on the sides to the broadly rounded 

 apex, which hardly covers the mandibular teeth, bearing about 14 long reddish 

 setae. Mandibles very long, falciform, broad at the base, each with a large 

 tooth in line with the apex of the labram. Gula at naiTowest part about one 

 fourth the width of bead. Antennae (Text-figs. 30, 31): First joint very large, 

 second about half as long as, and much narrower than, first, both without setae, 

 third half as long and about as wide as second, shortest of aU; fourth vei-y 

 little larger than fifth, sixth a little larger than fourth, seventh to fourteenth 

 elongate. 



Prothorax very small, much narrower than head, anterior half bent up, front 

 margin semicircular-, -with faint indication of notch in middle; antero-lateral area 

 narrowed, sides sloping into the truncate posterior margin; margin with scanty 

 fringe of long reddish setae. 



Legs moderately short, femora and fore-tibiae slightly thickened, with few 

 setae; apical one-third of tibiae with long stout setae on posterior margin, tibial 

 spurs 3:2:2. 



