16 W. A. SANDS 



that the species concerned was N. corniger (Motschulsky, 1855), this does not con- 

 stitute a valid citation of the species under Article 69 (a). Prashad and Sen-Sarma 

 are therefore correct in rejecting the designation of TV. corniger as the type-species 

 in Snyder (1949). 



The first use after Dudley of the generic name Nasutitertnes was made by Banks 

 (1919) when eight species were cited by name ; from among these Banks (1920) 

 proceeded to designate as type-species Nasutitermes morio (Latreille, 1805). Emer- 

 son (1925) stated that the species name Termes morio Latreille was a junior primary 

 homonym of Termes morio Fabricius (1793) (now placed in synonymy with Copto- 

 termes testaceus (L.)), and had to be replaced by the next available name Nasutitermes 

 costalis (Holmgren). This he considered to be synonymous with 2V. morio (Latreille), 

 and therefore was to be the type-species of the genus. The description in Latreille 

 (1805), referred to by both Banks and Emerson is given under the heading 

 ' TERMES MORIO ; Termes morio. Fab.". Clearly Latreille identified his 

 specimens as Fabricius' species, and in so doing did not create a new species. 

 Though the identification has since proved erroneous, the description cannot be held 

 to have designated a new species since no alternative name was proposed. " Termes 

 morio Latreille " has therefore never existed as a valid nominal species, and the 

 specific name morio cannot be retained for the species which was before Latreille 

 (Article 49). Banks' designation of this as the type-species of Nasutitermes was 

 thus in error and must be rejected in favour of the first subsequent designation. 

 Nasutitermes costalis (Holmgren) was not among those cited by name by Banks (1919) 

 and was therefore not directly available for designation, Article 69 (a) clauses (i) 

 and (ii). 



Article 69 (a) clause (iv) states : " (iv) If an author designates (or accepts 

 another's designation) as type-species a nominal species that was not originally 

 included, and if, but only if, at the same time he synonymizes that species with one 

 of the originally included species, his act constitutes designation of the latter as 

 type-species of the genus ". 



Emerson (1925) synonymized a number of species described by Holmgren (1910) 

 and chose from among them the name 2V. costalis for the species. One of those 

 synonymized was 2V. sanchezi, which was among those originally included in the 

 genus by Banks (1919). Thus the type-species of Nasutitermes in accordance with 

 Article 69 of the International Code must be taken to have been designated by 

 Emerson (1925) as Eutermes sanchezi Holmgren, 1910 (=Eutermes costalis Holmgren, 

 1910). Nasutitermes costalis (Holmgren) is therefore only type-species by virtue of 

 its containing 2V. sanchezi (Holmgren) as a synonym. The Holotype of 2V. 

 sanchezi was reported by Weidner (1955) to be a soldier caste, in the Zoologischen 

 Staatsinstituts und Zoologischen Museums, Hamburg. 



The generic name Nasutitermes was first applied to species from the Ethiopian 

 Region by Emerson (1928), who dealt with some species formally, and some in- 

 formally, without references to their author's names, in comparisons with the 

 formally treated species. I have thought it best in making out specific synonymies 

 to refer the first use of " Nasutitermes " to Emerson (1928) only in those species 



