U2 \Y. A. SANDS 



Left mandible, third marginal to 



molar (L m ) .... 009 



Right mandible, apical to first 



marginal (Ra) .... 009 



Right mandible, first to second 



marginal (Ri) . . . . 0-13 



Right mandible, second marginal 



to molar (R m ) . . . 0-08 



Mesonotum width (M) . . . 0-33 



Metanotum width (N) . . . 033 



Worker. Head-capsule and pilosity, pale yellow, setae very sparse and scattered, incon- 

 spicuous. Postclypeus moderately inflated, Pcl/W, 0-27, Pcl/Ri, 2-02. Apical teeth of man- 

 dibles short, La/Li, 0-48, Ra/Ri, 0-67; subsidiary marginal tooth of left mandible separated 

 from molar prominence by wide deep notch in surface view, complex ratio LA/Li-L m , 7-70; 

 apical and marginal teeth of right mandible approximately in line, anterior edges of first and 

 second marginals equal, RA/Ri-Rm, 11-96. Fore tibia very slender, Ti/T w , 6-02, third apical 

 spur distinct, half length of other two. Mesenteric overlap at junction with proctodeum about 

 twice as long as width of mesenteron at insertion of malpighian tubules, proctodeum reaching 

 half-way through malpighian knot; enteric valve seating slightly dorso-lateral in unopened 

 abdomen, with two distinct lateral lobes and vestigial third, inner lobe, connected to second 

 pouch of proctodeum by pronounced neck; membranous wall of valve beyond cushions with 

 very sparse minute spicules. 



Measurements (one specimen) in millimetres. 



Head width (W) 0-85 



Fore tibia width (T w ) .... o-n 



Fore tibia length (Ti) .... 066 



Postclypeus length (Pel) . . . 0-23 



Left mandible, apical to first marginal (La) 0-07 



Left mandible, first to third marginal (Li) . 0-15 

 Left mandible, third marginal to molar 



(Lm) 006 



Right mandible, apical to first marginal 



(Ra) 0-08 



Right mandible, first to second marginal 



(Ri) on 



Right mandible, second marginal to molar 



(R m ) 006 



The slight tendency in A. aneristus for the first marginal tooth of the right man- 

 dible to be reduced, and the beginnings of a mixed segment in the gut suggest weak 

 affinities with Anenteotermes. Similar tendencies are also found in other genera 

 such as Astalotermes and Acholotermes, but the species concerned, A. brevior and 

 A. epius, both have differently proportioned mandibular teeth from A. aneristus. 

 Of the other species of Astratotermes, A. apocnetns is distinguishable in the imago 

 by its smaller fontanelle, smaller ocelli further from the eyes, and more inflated 

 postclypeus; the worker has a short mesenteric-proctodeal junction, to the right of 

 the malpighian knot, and a prominently three-lobed enteric valve seating ventro- 

 lateral in position in the unopened abdomen. A. hilarus has longer apical teeth 

 to the mandibles. A. mansuetus is larger, with more inflated postclypeus, a large 

 circular fontanelle, and in the worker, a ventral enteric valve seating with three 



