168 W. A. SANDS 



Postclypeus length (Pel) .... 0-22-0-26 0244 ± 0-017 



Left mandible, apical to first marginal (La) 009-010 0095 ± 0-007 



Left mandible, first to third marginal (Li) . 013-015 0-141 ± 0-008 



Left mandible, third marginal to molar (L m ) 0-05-0-06 0-056 ± 0-006 

 Right mandible, apical to first marginal 



(Ra) ....... 0-08-0-10 0093 i 0-008 



Right mandible, first to second marginal 



(Ri) ....... 0-09-0-1 1 0105 ± 0009 



Right mandible, second marginal to molar 



(R m ) ....... 0-05-0-06 0058 i 0-005 



A. muricatus has already been compared with A. ctenopher under the latter 

 heading. A. retifaciens is distinguished by the same characters that separate it 

 from A. ctenopher, as also is A. tranquillus. The differing mandible proportions 

 again characterize the remaining species in the imago. In the worker caste 

 A. sentosus is smaller, and the wall of the enteric valve seating bears a sclerotized 

 cup that receives the dilated end of cushion 1. A. rastratus and A. pectinatus have 

 the outer edge of the right first marginal tooth longer than the second, and A. 

 spinulatus has longer apical teeth, and slender spines on the enteric valve cushions 

 in positions 2-4. The enteric valve of A . muricatus seems intermediate in develop- 

 ment between the forms seen in A. rastratus and A. pectinatus, and the 'slender' 

 form of A. spinulatus. It shows a fair amount of variation between specimens from 

 Malawi and South Africa, and there is a possibility that two species have been 

 combined here. However, separation would not seem to be justified at present 

 without more material and information since there are intermediate specimens. 



Holotype $ winged imago, and three paratype workers from type-colony, 

 Republic of South Africa: Transvaal, Sibasa, 9.vii.i96o (/. L. Sheasby) in 

 National Collection of Isoptera, Coll. No. TM 7413, Pretoria. 



Other paratype material. Republic of South Africa: Transvaal, Carolina, 

 22.xii.1955 (W. G. H. Coaton) ; Ermelo, 6.VL1956 (/. H. Grobler); Carolina, 26.X.1960 

 (/. L. Sheasby), alates and workers. Swaziland: Mbabane, 23.x. i960 (W. G. H. 

 Coaton) alates and workers, all above in N.C.I., Pretoria. Malawi: Vipya Plateau, 

 6 m. N. of Mount Chioli (two vials) 20. ix. 1953, king and workers, 7 m. from 

 Kota-Kota on Kasungu Road, 17. ix, 33 m. from Kasungu on Lilongwe Road, 

 18. ix, Nyika Plateau (two vials) 29. ix, and Songwe, i.x.1953, all workers only 

 {W. A. Sands & W. Wilkinson), all in BMNH. 



Most of the records are from the low mounds of Cubitermes spp., only one series 

 being found under dead wood in an area of tall dense woodland approaching rain 

 forest conditions. 



Ateuchotermes pectinatus sp. n. 



(Text-figs 407, 408, 415, 416 & 432-438; PI. 4, figs 6 & 7) 



Imago. Head capsule dark chestnut-brown, not darker above ocelli; fontanelle much smaller 

 than ocellus, circular to short oval indistinct outline, flat or slightly depressed, coloured as head; 

 medial spot circular or broad oval, flat or slightly raised, equal in size to fontanelle or slightly 



