natural, history

14. ISOPTERA FROM RENNELL ISLANDBYW. VICTOR HARRISCOMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE OF ENTOMOLOGY. LONDONThe collection of termites made on Rennell Island in 1951 by M r. TORBEN WOLFF andMr. HARRY KNUDSEN of the Danish Galathea Expedition contains representatives offive species. One of these species had already been recorded from Rennell Island. Inaddition the British Museum (Natural History) Expedition, 1953, under Mr. J. D.BRADLEY has provided further material of two species.All the species are found in the Solomon Islands proper, as will be seen from thelist of termites recorded from this area given below. Of the five species found onRennell Island, two are restricted to the Solomon - Santa Cruz group, while theremaining thr~e species are generally distributed throughout the Papuan region.In compiling the distribution lists for the several species. use has been made of thecollection in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.), as indicated. Other references arebibliographical. Particulars of collecting localities etc. are given by WOLFF (1955 a & b)and BRADLEY (1955).Neotermes sanctae-crucis (Snyder)1925. J. Wa~hington Acad. Sci. 15 : 396.Lavanggu (Dan. Exp.), tw'O adult females, one with wings attached, from rain forest(No. L. 356,19. x. 51. and L. 372,20. x. 51).Te-Avamanggu (Dan. Exp.) five soldiers and numerous nymphs from rain forestand cultivation (No. L. 367.17. x. 51).Hutuna (Brit. Exp.). several soldiers and nymphs from a rotting log (19. xi. 53).Measurements:Alates - 2 femalesWidth of head across eyesDiameter of eyeDiameter of ocellusDistance of ocellus to eyeWidth of pronotumLength of pronotumLength of hind tibiaForewingAntennal segments, numberrange.2.13 - 2.23 mm.0.58 - 0.600.22-0.24 x 0.21-0.24o 02.68 - 2.591.59 - 1.462.27 - 2.1312 '" 421S~YDER, type.2.2531.82.2135 " 4.820 -2125