Isognathotermes gaigei (Emerson, 1928)

Figs 58–59

Revised herein as junior synonym of I. planifrons .

Mirotermes (Cubitermes) gaigei Emerson, 1928: 516–517, fig. 59.

Cubitermes gaigei – Snyder 1949: 159. – Ruelle 1992: 501. — Krishna et al. 2013: 1923. — Josens & Deligne 2019: 60.

Isognathotermes gaigei – Hellemans et al. 2021: 233.

Junior synonym of Isognathotermes planifrons (Sjöstedt, 1924) . Syn. nov.

Etymology

In the original description, Emerson (1928: 517) stated: “I have named the species in honor of Dr F. M. Gaige, through whose courtesy I was allowed to study the Cameroon collections included in this report.”

Historical review

Emerson (1928: 516–517) described this species under the name Mirotermes (Cubitermes) gaigei . He provided a description (with measurements and figures) of soldier together with a few measurements of the worker. He considered that the species was very close to C. loubetsiensis, and a little larger than C. fungifaber; he mentioned some differences with other species.

Snyder (1949: 159) catalogued C. gaigei in the sub-family Termitinae .

This is one of the species that Ruelle (1992: 501) called “forgotten species”.

Krishna et al. (2013: 1923) housed C. gaigei in the sub-family Cubitermitinae .

Josens & Deligne (2019: 42–44) placed this species within the finitimus valve pattern group.

Hellemans et al. (2021: 233) placed this species in the restored genus Isognathotermes .

Two subsamples have been examined (see Isognathotermes planifrons, DJ 0274 and DJ 0288). Krishna et al. (2013: 1923) mention that another subsample is deposited in UMMZ: holotype (soldier), not examined.

Isonathotermes gaigei has a morphology that matches well that of I. planifrons and was collected in the same type of ecosystem; therefore, I. gaigei (Emerson, 1928) is from now on considered a junior synonym of Isognathotermes planifrons (Sjöstedt, 1924) .