go 



W. A. SANDS 



A. obstructus is smaller than any other Group III species, and has the first marginal 

 tooth of the right mandible slightly less reduced, in both imago and worker. In 

 this it shows affinities with Groups I and II. In the imago it is separated from all 

 these by the closeness of the ocelli to the compound eyes. In the worker, A. 

 obstructus is also distinguished from the rest of Group III by the distinctly necked 

 enteric valve seating, from Group II species by its small size, and from Group I 

 by the shorter right first marginal tooth. The imago of A. obstructus was at first 

 confused with that of Apagotermes stolidus sp. n., but the meso- and metanota are 

 proportionately wider, the postclypeus longer, and the ocelli are closer to the eyes. 

 The worker of A. stolidus is easily recognized by the very characteristic armature 

 of the enteric valve. The abdomen of the worker caste is definitely dehiscent in 

 A. obstructus. 



Holotype $ imago, paratype $ and <$ imagos, and workers from type- 

 colony, Democratic Republic of Congo: Epulu R., Camp Putnam, 17.V.1948 

 {A. E. Emerson) in American Museum of Natural History. (Paratypes from type- 

 colony, $ and (J imagos and workers, in British Museum (Natural History).) 



Other paratype material. Democratic Republic of Congo: Epulu R., Camp 

 Putnam, 21. v and 22. v. 1948, Yangambi, 29.V.1948 {A. E. Emerson) (queens, imagos, 

 and workers) in AMNH. 



176 



177 



Figs 170-177. Astalotermes, imago mandibles. 170, 171, A. acholus; 172, 173, A. brevior; 

 174, 175, A. obstructus; 176, 177, A. quietus. 



