Abstract
The mandibles of third-stage workers and fourth-stage reproductive nymphs ofDrepanotermes perniger, both of the fifth instar, differ in size and shape. Measurements are of no diagnostic value taken singly, but scores from a canonical variate based on as few as three or four measurements of either mandible analysed individually, or a total of six measurements for a combined analysis based on both mandibles, effect complete separation of the two castes. Similar separation is achieved with W3 and N4 from populations ofD. perniger collected up to approximately 3,500 km from the source of the reference series from which the canonical variate was calculated. Such multivariate analyses may be helpful in studies of polyethism in termites, and of structural and functional specialisation in sympatric associations of closely related species.
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