Ephelotermes cheeli (Mjöberg)

(Figs 13–16, 49–50, 61, 66)

Mirotermes Cheeli Mjöberg, 1920: 95 .

Ephelotermes cheeli (Mjöberg) .— Miller, 1991: 1180.

Material examined. AUSTRALIA. ANIC. Queensland. #10–18434, Weipa, 2.xi.1978, collected and identified by L.R. Miller. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Authors' collection. Fly. # PNGT 1414: Morehead, 22.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1416: Morehead, 23.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1435, 1436: Morehead, 24.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1487, 1492: Wipim, 30.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1496: Wipim, 31.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1555, 1556: Lake Murray, 22.v.1990, YR & ML. # PNGT 1565: Lake Murray, 23.v.1990, YR & ML. # PNGT 1586: Lake Murray, 25.v.1990, YR & ML. # PNGT 1655: Nomad, 2.vi.1990, YR & ML.

Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from other ones of the genus by its large size (Tables 5–6, 18) and the short labrum of soldiers. For detailed descriptions see Mjöberg (1920), Hill (1942) and Miller (1991).

Distribution (Fig. 66). This species was collected 13 times in southern Papua New Guinea (Morehead, Wipim, Lake Murray and Nomad River) in both forests and savannas. It is also known from northern Queensland and Torres Strait islands (Miller 1991, Watson & Abbey 1993: 101).

Head length to apex of frontal tubercle 1.28–1.79 Head length to anterolateral corner of the genae 1.20–1.55 Head depth with postmentum 0.60–0.80 Head depth without postmentum 0.69–0.89 Head maximum width 0.81–0.97 Pronotum width 0.46–0.68 Left mandible length 1.75–2.13 Postmentum minimum width 0.12–0.19