[2 W. A. SANDS 



Leptomyxotermes is found in rotting wood, and the humus-feeding genera of the 

 " Paracornitermes branch " are Afrosubulitermes Postsubulitermes, Verrucositermes, 

 Tarditermes, and some species of Eutermellus and Mimeutermes. In the less moist 

 coastal forests and woodlands of East Africa, the fauna is much reduced, with only 

 two species of Nasutitermes and one of Grallatotermes. The feeding habits of the 

 latter are not known, but it probably also feeds on wood. 



In the tall grass savannah zones adjacent both north and south to the Congo rain 

 forest, the grass feeding " Harvester " genus Trinervitermes becomes dominant, with 

 Fulleriterm.es in a subsidiary wood-feeding role. Humus-feeders are restricted to 

 one or two species of Mimeutermes and Eutermellus, though it is understood that a 

 few related species or genera await description from the southern areas. In East 

 Africa, Trinervitermes is present, but Rhadinotermes appears to replace Fulleritermes, 

 although their feeding habits are probably rather different. No humus-feeding 

 members of the " Paracornitermes branch " are known from East Africa. 



As conditions become drier, both northwards and southwards towards the deserts, 

 the faunae become more restricted. Fewer species of Trinervitermes are found, and 

 Fulleritermes persists, but the humus-feeding genera are not known beyond the 

 limits of the Isoberlinia and Brachystegia-Julbemardia savannah woodlands, types 

 17, 18, 19 of Keay et al. (1959). 



The driest areas of all on the fringes of the deserts have relatively very few species ; 

 one or two Trinervitermes occur, and the small related genera Mycterotermes and 

 Baucaliotermes are found in these types in Arabia and South-West Africa respectively. 



More detailed accounts of individual distribution are given under generic and 

 specific headings. 



In the distribution maps of individual species, the shaded portions show the full 

 extent of the vegetation types from which each species has been recorded. These 

 are not always floristically identical North and South of the Congo forest, but are 

 considered ecologically equivalent. The shaded parts therefore indicate the prob- 

 able potential distribution in addition to the actual distribution to which the species 

 is confined by biotic or other ecological barriers. Records of specimens that I have 

 examined are shown by black triangles ; those of other authors unsubstantiated by 

 redetermination but thought reliable are shown by hollow triangles. 



Keys to Genera 

 In the keys which follow, certain characters will be more readily appreciated if reference is 

 made to the appropriate figures. The separation of constricted-headed from other soldier 

 castes is such a case, as also are certain features of the imago mandibles. Although it has 

 become customary to refer to " imago-worker " mandibles, and to use those of the worker to 

 avoid damaging scarce imago material, they are in fact different. The " left mandible index " 

 is the distance between left apical and first marginal teeth divided by the distance from first to 

 third marginals and expressed in decimals. This index usually differs considerably between 

 imago and worker castes, probably indicating the greater degree of food adaptation in the latter. 

 In the humus-feeding species the worker index is greater than the imago, and in the others it is 

 approximately equal to or smaller than the imago. In this revision, the imago mandibles have 

 been used wherever possible, and where worker mandibles have to be used this is noted in the 

 text. The key to imagos has however been arranged so that it can also to a large extent be used 

 to identify workers in spite of their differences. Measurements are given in millimetres. 



