THE SOLDIERLESS TERMITES OF AFRICA 105 



branous wall of enteric valve beyond cushions with sparse minute spicules. Other characters 

 given in generic diagnosis. 



Measurements (seven specimens from seven localities) in millimetres. 



Range Mean ± S.D. 



Head width (W) ....... 0-85-0-00 0879 ± 0019 



Fore tibia width (T w ) . . . . , 



Fore tibia length (T|) . . . . . 



Postclypeus length (Pel) . . . . 



Left mandible, apical to first marginal (La) 

 Left mandible, first to third marginal (Li) 

 Left mandible, third marginal to molar (L m ) . 

 Right mandible, apical to first marginal (Ra) 

 Right mandible, first to second marginal (Ri) , 

 Right mandible, second marginal to molar (K, 



01 4-0- 1 6 o-i 44 ± 0008 



0-60-0-65 °'° 2 3 ± 0-015 



0-28-0-30 0287 ± 0008 



008-009 0084 ± 0004 



014-015 0147 ± 0004 



005-006 005 1 i 0003 



008-009 0085 i 0003 



010-011 0108 ± 0002 



005-006 0056 -± 0005 



The distinguishing features of this species are discussed under the generic heading. 

 It only remains to mention that the abdomen of the worker caste shows no sign of 

 being dehiscent in A. moretelae, being without a trace of any line of weakness across 

 the back of the first tergite, and without the slightly humped appearance at this 

 point characteristic of the profile in dehiscent species. 



A. moretelae is another of those species names that are included as a result of the 

 observations of Dr A. E. Emerson, since it has been placed hitherto in the genus 

 Procabitermes (see also Adaiphrotermes choanensis, Astalotermes brevior, etc.). A 

 lectotype is designated below from among the syntype series. 



Type-material. Mirotermes (? Procubitermes) moretelae Fuller, LECTOTYPE <$ 

 imago, type-colony, paralectotype £ and $ imagos, Republic of South Africa: 

 Transvaal, The Moretele, Pienaars River, i.x.1916 (C. Fuller, No. F702), in National 

 Collection of Isoptera, Pretoria; other paralectotype in AMNH. 



Other material. Republic of South Africa: Transvaal, Pretoria (two vials), 

 i.xi and 6.XL1945 (W. G. H. Coaton); Lichtenburg, (two vials), i.xi.1960 

 [P. C. Joubert 6- H. P. Nieman). Orange Free State; Bultfontein, 15.XH and Wes- 

 selsbron, 16.xii.1960 (H. P. Nieman); Bultfontein, 28.x. 1962 (G. F. Pretorius); 

 Hoopstad, 25.x. 1963 (W. Mohalc). Cape Province; Vryburg (five vials), 

 19-21.1.1960 (P. C. Joubert). 



A total of 14 nest-series have been examined. The only biological information 

 is on the type-series which was in the wall of a mound of Macrotermes natalcnsis 

 (Haviland). All the specimens appear to have been collected in the vegetation 

 types 20 or 25 (Keya et al., 1959) inland of the Montane areas (type 6). This 

 contrasts with the smaller number of records of A. empodius which was found in 

 type 20 in Natal on the coastal side of the uplands. 



ASTRATOTERMES gen. n. 



(A — 'without, no', stratos, Gr., 'army') 

 Type-species: Astratotermes prosenus sp. n. 



Imago. Medium-sized to very large, W, 0-98-1-61. Fore tibia with three apical spurs, 

 third only slightly smaller than other two. Apical teeth of mandibles short to moderately 



