88 W. A. SANDS 



Fuller); Ermelo (two vials), 17. xi. 1939, Pretoria, 20. ix and 24.x. 1939 and 23. ix. 1957, 

 Middelburg (eight vials), 25.x. 1955 and (three vials), 28.x. i960, Bronkhorstspruit 

 (two vials), 25.x. 1955 and (13 vials), 23-24. ix. 1957, Soutpansberg, 9.xii.i956, 

 Carolina, 22.xii.1956 and 26.x. i960, Randfontein (three vials), Potchefstroom 

 and Krugersdorp, i.x.1956, Volksrust (two vials), 27.x. 1956, Heidelburg (four vials), 

 14.X.1957, Warmbaths (three vials), 25. ix. 1957 and 3.x. i960, Groblersdal (three 

 vials), 26.ix.1957, Waterberg, 25. ix. 1957 (two vials), 18-19.X.1959, 3.X.1960 and 

 (seven vials), 27.ix.1961, Sibasa (two vials), 24-26. x. 1959, Pietersburg (three vials), 

 5.x. i960, Nelspruit (five vials) 21.x. i960, Marico (two vials), 2.ix.ig6i and Rusten- 

 burg (seven vials), 26.ix.1961 (W. G. H. Coaton); Piet Retief, 5.XL1947 (D. V. V. 

 Webb); Belfast, 27.lv. 1936, and Lydenburg, 27. xi. 1936 (/. H. Grobler); Bronkhorst- 

 spruit, 11. xi and Soutpansberg, 31.xii.1960 (P. C. Joubert); Lichtenburg, 5.xi.ig6o 

 (H. P. Nieman), Soutpansberg, 10. x. i960, Rustenburg (three vials), 4.x and Marico 

 (two vials), 5-6.X.1961, Delmas (three vials) and Bethal (two vials), i.x.1962 

 (/. L. Sheasby & G. F. Pretorius). Swaziland: Mbabane, 8.VL1956 (/. H. Grobler) ; 

 Piggs Peak (two vials), Mbabane, Stegi, Hlatikulu (two vials) and Mankaiama 

 (four vials), 23-26.X.1960 (W. G. H. Coaton & J. L. Sheasby). South West Africa: 

 Windhoek District, Neudamm-Steinhausen, 2.x. 1965, Okavango District, 20 m. 

 from Sakambo-Gowe, 28.iv.1967 (W. G. H. Coaton). Rhodesia: Matopos, 22. xi. 1965 

 (M. G. Bingham). Zambia: Choma, 14.L1957 (W. G. H. Coaton). 



Most of the above material is in the N.C.I. , Pretoria, and parts of many nest- 

 series have also been deposited in the BMNH or in the AMNH. A total of 202 nest- 

 series have been examined including the type-material. Little biological information 

 is available but this species has been recorded from the mounds of other genera, 

 and under stones or prone logs. It is the commonest species in south and south- 

 central Africa and extends through south-west Africa to the borders of the Congo, 

 tolerating a fair range of climatic and vegetation types, most of them however 

 relatively dry and open. The species has not been found in rain forest. 



Astalotertnes obstructus sp. n. 



(Text-figs 163, 164, 174, 175 & 196-201) 



Imago. Head capsule dark sepia-brown, not darker above ocelli; fontanelle elongate-oval, 

 slightly shorter than ocelli, slightly depressed, brown; medial spot short oval, very small, 

 raised on small bump, sepia-brown; postclypeus sepia-brown, labrum yellow-brown; frontal 

 marks very indistinct, flat, crescent-shaped, sepia-brown; antennae brown. Pronotum sepia- 

 brown, meso- and metanota brown, transverse dark suture only present on metanotum; legs, 

 femora yellow-brown, tibiae paler, tarsi yellow. Abdominal tergites brown, dorsal stigmata 

 paler, sternites and ventral stigmata pale brown, sternites yellow in middle; cerci yellow. 



Posterior margin of head capsule not quite evenly rounded, slightly undulating behind eyes; 

 ocelli fairly large, almost touching compound eyes, separated by one-quarter own least diameter 

 or less; postclypeus weakly inflated, Pcl/W, 0-23-0-26, Pc1/Ra, 3-28-3-64, posterior margin 

 obtusely angular, only rounded in middle, median suture distinct posteriorly, absent in front. 

 Apical teeth of mandibles short, La/Li, 0-50-0-60, Ra/Ri, 0-63-0-67 ; subsidiary marginal tooth 

 of left mandible just clear of molar prominence in surface view, complex ratio LA/Li.L m , 8-17- 

 10-16; points of apical and marginal teeth of right mandible in line, anterior edges of first and 



