Termite Phylogeny as Evidenced by Soldier Mandible Development

Abstract

An understanding of the phylogeny of any group is attained only after an exhaustive investigation has been made of all possible contributing evidence. Hence this study was undertaken more with a view to ascertain how closely the systematics, based solely upon the development and differentiation of soldier termite mandibles, would corroborate the more or less accepted phylogeny. Although it has been subsequently modified in a number of respects, Holmgren's (1911–1912) classification of the Isoptera is accepted in its major portion. Therefore the conclusions which I drew from a mandibular study will be briefly compared with the above mentioned work.