THE SOLDIERLESS TERMITES OF AFRICA 235 



later form. The only explanation that suggests itself is that of climatic fluctuations 

 affecting the food supply. The smaller, paler coloured specimens with a flat or 

 depressed fontanelle might occur in adverse conditions that recur from time to time. 

 The 'typical' form is therefore likely to be the larger, darker version with a conspicu- 

 ous raised fontanelle that separates it clearly from Adaiphrotermes cuniculator and 

 Adaiphrotermes scapheutes. In the worker caste, the fore tibia is slightly less in- 

 flated, but the gut characters appear to be more specialized (cf. section on phylogeny). 



That A. choanensis belonged to the soldierless termites was first recognized by 

 Dr A. E. Emerson, who labelled the syntypes as Anoplotermes, thereby ensuring 

 their inclusion here. The species was placed in the genus Procubitermes Silvestri 

 by Snyder (1949 : 167). It should be noted that Fuller associated a soldier of the 

 genus Lepidotermes with the alates described under the name Microterm.es {Pro- 

 cubitermes) choanensis, and the same vial, that is, the syntype series, included an 

 imago of a species of Astalotermes. These specimens have been separated from the 

 lectotype and paralectotypes of A . choanensis. The single soldier of Lepidotermes is 

 not named here as this would require comparative studies of existing species, to 

 one of which it may well belong. 



A lectotype is designated below from the existing syntype material. 



Type-material. Mirotermes (Procubitermes) choanensis Fuller, LECTOTYPE $ 

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

 Transvaal, Pretoria, Arcadia, 23.xi.1914 (C. Fuller), in National Collection of 

 Isoptera, Pretoria; other paralectotypes from same colony in AMNH. 



Other material. Tanzania: Amani, Lewe, 14.iii.1951 (P. B. Kemp). Malawi: 

 Fort Lister Gap, I5°49'S., 35°5i'E., 21.viii.1953 (W. A. Sands 6- W. Wilkinson). 

 Rhodesia: Rekomitjie, i6°07'S., 29°24'E., 22. xi. 1964 (two vials), Matopos, 20°25'S., 

 28°3o'E., 17. xi. 1965 and 22. xi. 1965 (two vials) (A/. G. Bingham). Swaziland: 

 Stegi, 24.x. i960 (/. L. Sheasby); Hlatikulu, 25.x. i960 (W. G. H. Coaton), N.C.I. 

 Republic of South Africa: Transvaal, Pretoria, 27.x. 1939 (three vials), Piet 

 Retief, 7.XU.1959, Middleburg, 28.X.1960 (W. G. H. Coaton), N.C.I, and BMNH; 

 Pretoria, 6.xi.igi4 (C. Fuller), N.C.I, and AMNH; Natal, Zululand, Eshowe, 

 22.iv.1926 (R. E. Turner); Ubombo, 18. xi and 19. xi. 1955 (five vials), Ingwavuma, 

 22. xi and 23. xi. 1955 (three vials), Lower Tugela, 28.x. 1957 (three vials), Ubombo, 

 8.xii and 18.xii.1959 (two vials), Ingwavuma, 14.xii.1959 (two vials) (W. G. H. 

 Coaton), BMNH and N.C.I. ; Ngotshe, 5.xii.i95g, Vryheid, 5.3di.ig5g, Babanango, 

 6.xii.i959 (P. C. Joubert); Vryheid, 9. i. 1962, Ubombo, 11. i. 1962, Hlabisa, 11. i. 1962, 

 Entonjaneni, 13. i. 1962 (J. L. Sheasby) BMNH and N.C.I. 



Thirty-nine nest-series were examined, and the material is in the British Museum 

 (Natural History) unless otherwise stated. In spite of the number of records 

 available, nothing is known of the biology of this species. 



Adaiphrotermes cuniculator sp. n. 



(Text-figs 638-641 & 651-655; PI. 9, fig. 11) 



Imago. Head capsule dark sepia-brown, darker above ocelli; fontanelle small or vestigial, 

 circular, slightly depressed, from distinct and pale coloured to obscure, coloured as head; 



