THE SOLDIERLESS TERMITES OF AFRICA 



103 



to a further monotypic genus. However, as in Acidnotermes, the subsidiary mar- 

 ginal tooth of the left mandible has scarcely emerged from behind the molar pro- 

 minence. The gut of the worker is shorter than in most Astalotermes. In the 

 imago, the fontanelle is usually raised on a distinct bump, and the medial spot is 

 always raised on a second, more prominent bump. These features are found in 

 several other genera, and suggest that although the enteric valve seating is clearly 

 specialized, a number of probably ancestral characteristics have been retained. 



Apart from the mandible and fontanelle characters already mentioned, A. 

 moretelae differs from Astalotermes aganas in the imago in having the ocelli much 

 closer to the eyes; in the worker the two-lobed short-necked enteric valve seating 

 contrasts with the three-lobed long-necked structure of the latter species. The 

 valve seating is also three-lobed in A. empodius, which has a shorter postclypeus. 

 This is also true of A . mitis, and the worker caste of this species has a long-necked 



234 



235 



236 



237 



Figs 232-240. Adynatotermes moretelae. 232, 233, front and side views of imago head 

 capsule; 234, 235, imago mandibles; 236, 237, worker ditto; 238, entire worker intestine; 

 239, mesenteric-proctodeal junction showing attachment of malpighian tubules and 

 position of malpighian knot ; 240, enteric valve seating. 



