THE SOLDIERLESS TERMITES OF AFRICA 



243 



miles), it is inadvisable to synonymise A. chirotus with A. socialis. They may in 

 future be proved synonymous by additional material from intermediate localities. 

 The specimen labelled as lectotype by Emerson in 1952 is so designated, as follows :- 

 Eutermes socialis Sjostedt, LECTOTYPE $ imago, Cameroun: Mungo River, 

 ix. 1874 (R. Bucholz), in Naturhistoriska Riksmuseum, Stockholm. (Sjostedt 

 reported also depositing specimens at Mus. Greifswald, E. Germany, but these have 

 not been examined.) 



The records of the species of Pericapritermes hitherto known as P. socialis are 

 therefore misidentifications for which it is desirable to provide an alternative name. 

 All the material identified as P. socialis at the BMNH has been compared with 

 Sjostedt's specimen of the soldier from Cameroun: Mungo River, x. 1874 (R. 

 Bucholz) (Sjostedt collection No. 931) and found to be the same species. This is the 

 only species known from the forest areas around Lagos and Ibadan. Silvestri (1914) 

 described Pericapritermes urgens Silvestri 'var. nov.' nigeriana as being smaller than 

 the typical form. His localities were forests near Lagos, Olokemeji, and Ibadan. 

 It is clear from his use of a geographical name that in this case his varietal concept 

 should be construed as having subspecific rank. There is little doubt that this is 

 the same species as that previously known as P. socialis, with which its description 

 agrees in every particular. The name nigeriana, suitably emended, is available for 

 the taxon, as set out below :- 



Pericapritermes nigerianus Silvestri stat. n. 



Pericapritermes urgens Silvestri var. nigeriana Silvestri, 1914 : 137. Syntype soldiers and 

 workers, Nigeria: Lagos, Olokemeji, Ibadan, in Silvestri Coll., Istituto Entomologia di 

 Agraria, Naples. 



All previously published uses of the erroneous combination Pericapritermes socialis 

 (Sjostedt) should now be referred to the above species name. 



INDEX 

 (Junior synonyms are given in italics, species belonging to other groups in brackets). 



Acholotermes gen. n., 139 

 acholus sp. n., 82 

 Acidnotermes gen. n., 44 

 Adaiphrotermes gen. n., 229 

 Aderitotermes gen. n., 222 

 Adynatotermes gen. n., 102 

 Aganotermes gen. n., 135 

 aganus sp. n., 69 

 Alyscotermes gen. n., 125 

 amachetus sp. n., 195 

 Amalotermes gen. n., 47 

 Amicotermes gen. n., 152 

 amicus sp. n., 58 

 Anaorotermes gen. n., 184 

 Anenteotermes gen. n., 192 



aneristus sp. n., no 

 Apagotermes gen. n., 155 

 apocnetus sp. n., 113 

 Asagarotermes gen. n., 187 

 Astalotermes gen. n., 51 

 Astratotermes gen. n., 105 

 Ateuchoternes gen. n., 158 

 ateuchestes sp. n., 198 



benignus sp. n., 61 

 brevior, 84 



cavator sp. n., 224 

 chirotus sp. n., 143 

 choanensis, 232 



