108 W. A. SANDS 



long. La/Li, 0-46-0-80, Ra/Ri, 0-58-1-07; subsidiary marginal tooth of left mandible just 

 clear of molar prominence in surface view, to widely clear, separated from molar prominence 

 by distinct notch, complex ratio LA/Li.L m , 4-70-11-11. Right mandible with points of apical 

 and marginal teeth more or less in line; anterior edge of first marginal distinctly longer than 

 that of second or approximately equal to it. Meso- and metanota from rather narrow to some- 

 what wider at constriction M/W, 0-24-0-35, transverse dark sutures always present, sometimes 

 weakly developed; complex ratio of mandible and notal measurements, Lj/M.N, 0-87-2-36. 



Worker. Medium-sized to very large, W, 0-78-1-09. Fore tibia slightly swollen or slender, 

 Ti/T w , 4-54-7-08, with three apical spurs, third spur distinct, never vestigial. Apical teeth of 

 mandibles short to long, La/Li, 0-40-0-88, R A /Ri, 0-62-1-10; subsidiary marginal tooth of left 

 mandible just clear of molar prominence in surface view, to widely clear, separated from molar 

 prominence by deep notch, complex ratio La/LiL„,, 7-47-18-61. Right mandible with apical 

 and marginal teeth in line, or first marginal retracted ; anterior edge of first marginal longer than 

 that of second, equal to it, or shorter, complex ratio Ra/Ri Rm. 8-86-21-90. Mesenteric 

 junction with proctodeum varies from diagonal to overlapping by about twice width of 

 mesenteron at insertion of malpighian tubules, proximal end of proctodeum to right of mal- 

 pighian knot in shorter forms, half-way through it in longer. Enteric valve seating weakly 

 to strongly two- or three-lobed, connected to second pouch of proctodeum by distinct to very 

 long neck, ventral to dorsolateral in position in unopened abdomen; internal cushions of 

 enteric valve scaly, many of scales terminating posteriorly in a single minute spine, none of 

 which protrude through valve opening. 



Some species included in this genus appear to be related to some of the species 

 placed in Astalotermes, and the only feature in the diagnosis which clearly separates 

 these genera is the presence of small spines in the armature of the enteric valve. 

 There is a considerable spread of variation in other characters such as the imago 

 and worker mandibles, the imago fontanelle, the length of the worker gut as indicated 

 by the position of the enteric valve seating in the unopened abdomen, and in the 

 development of the mixed segment. These suggest that both Astalotermes and 

 Astratotermes may be artificial assemblages arising from the general similarity of 

 their species in a numerical analysis weighted by the enteric valve structure. How- 

 ever, these two genera are separated from one another by this analysis more widely 

 than some that are homogeneous and easily definable on conventional basis (Text- 

 fig. 243, to be compared with Text-fig. 56). Moreover, attempts to produce genera 

 based on combinations of the characters mentioned above by conventional or purely 

 numerical methods based on measurements alone proved unsuccessful (Text-figs 241, 

 242). Astratotermes is therefore retained, like Astalotermes, as a convenient grouping 

 until more ecological and biological information is available. 



Astratotermes is distinguishable from Adaiphrotermes, Aderitotermes and Anenteo- 

 termes in the worker caste by the short mesenteric overlap with the proctodeum. 

 The workers of Alyscotermes, Amicotermes, Apagotermes, Ateuchotermes, Anaoro- 

 termes and Asagarotermes all possess conspicuous and characteristic spiny enteric 

 valve armature. Aganotermes and Adynatotermes like Astalotermes are devoid of 

 even small spines, Acholotermes workers have longer apical teeth to the mandibles, 

 and the postclypeus is less inflated. The remaining genera are smaller. In the 

 imago, recognition of the genera is much more difficult. Of the genera with over- 

 lapping size-ranges, Adaiphrotermes lacks a third apical spur on the fore tibia. 

 Aganotermes and Adynatotermes have the subsidiary marginal tooth of the left 



