An early Cretaceous termite from southern England (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae)

Abstract

Valditermes brenanae gen. et sp.n. is described from the Weald Clay (Neocomian: (?) Hauterivian; c. ‐120 million years) of Surrey; it is the earliest described termite and social insect. Valditemes is referred to the extinct subfamily Cretatermitinae of the family Hodotermitidae, previously known only from a single specimen (Cretatermes carpenteri Emerson, 1967) from the Ceno‐ manian (c. ‐95 m.y.) of Labrador. Valditermes represent a more generalized condition than Cretatermes and may be the ancestor of Cretatemes. The geo‐ logical occurrence of Valditermes, other records o f Cretaceous termites, and finds of fossil termites in Britain are summarized. Copyright © 1981, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved