ETHIOPIAN NASUTITERMITINAE 153 



AFROSUBULITERMES Emerson 



Afrosubulitermes Emerson, i960 : 7. Type-species by original designation, Afrosubulitermes 

 congoensis Emerson, 1960. 



Imago. Left mandible with apical tooth distinctly longer than first marginal, but distance 

 between them slightly shorter than that from first to third marginals (left mandible index 

 ■89- -94), cutting edge between the latter deeply indented in front of third marginal and slightly 

 or not sinuate, anterior edge of third marginal longer than posterior, gap between this and molar 

 prominence very narrow ; right mandible, apical and first marginal as left, second marginal 

 small but distinct, molar plate in surface view without basal indentation, asymmetrical, with 

 large posterior rounded flange and smaller anterior, weakly ridged. Postclypeus scarcely 

 inflated, following line of profile, width 23 times length. Fontanelle represented by elongate 

 narrow ridge, visible only by side lighting on the highly polished head capsule, with pale oval 

 spot in front. Eyes not set out from sides of head. Pilosity virtually absent from head, only 

 prominent setae paired, on vertex, between ocelli, in middle of postclypeus and on its anterior 

 margin. Pronotum, sides weakly convergent posteriorly, length three-quarters or more of width 



Soldier. Monomorphic. Nose thin, cylindrical, tapering to fine point. Vestigial mandibles 

 without points, labrum with sinuate anterior margin. Head capsule weakly constricted behind 

 antennae. Antennae 12 segmented. Head and nose with numerous fine short setae, and six 

 longer setae, one pair on vertex and two pairs at base of nose. Abdominal tergites with scattered 

 short setae and longer on posterior margins, sternites similar but all setae longer, in both cases, 

 marginal setae approximately twice length of rest. 



Worker. Mandibles as imago except apical tooth longer in proportion (left mandible index 

 1 -36-1 -39), cutting edge behind left first marginal more sinuate, and right molar plate with more 

 pronounced flanges. 



The discovery of the imago of Afrosubulitermes has clarified its relationships to a 

 considerable extent. Its closest connection among Ethiopian genera is Eutermellus, 

 and the generic separation of the two is not as distinct as would appear from the 

 original description of Afrosubulitermes. New material of Eutermellus has shown a 

 greater range of variation than was previously known, and the main distinctive 

 features of Afrosubulitermes are its extremely small size and much reduced pilosity 

 in the imago, and its proportionately shorter nose in the soldier. It also has features 

 of resemblance to Postsubulitermes and appears to be intermediate between this 

 genus and Eutermellus. Afrosubulitermes was considered by Emerson (i960) to be 

 closely related to Verrucositermes, but I believe that the latter was more probably 

 separately derived from an ancestral form close to Eutermellus. 



Afrosubulitermes congoensis Emerson 

 (Text-figs. 409-411, 428-430, 434-436, 488 ; Map 31) 



Afrosubulitermes congoensis Emerson, i960 : 9. Type locality : Congo, Stanleyville. 



Imago. Previously undescribed. Head capsule sepia brown, paler patches in front of ocelli, 

 antennae and postclypeus brown, labrum pale brown. Pronotum and abdominal sclerites 

 brown, meso- and metanota, other thoracic sclerites and legs pale brown. Wing membrane 

 translucent pale brown, radius sector sepia brown, rest of venation brown, only subcosta and 

 radius sector distinct. 



Posterior margin of head capsule behind eyes less than semi-circular, slightly sinuate imme- 

 diately behind eyes ; eyes large relative to head width W/E index 2 -3-2 -4, but not prominent in 

 proportion to own diameter, slightly angular oval ; ocelli medium-sized, oval, separated from 



