Macrognathotermes errator Miller

Bourguignon, Thomas, Leponce, Maurice & Roisin, Yves, 2008, Revision of the Termitinae with snapping soldiers (Isoptera: Termitidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 1769, pp. 1-34 : 13-17

Macrognathotermes errator Miller

( Figs 25–28 , 53–54 , 63 , 65)

Macrognathotermes errator Miller, 1991: 1258 .

Type material examined: p aratypes. AUSTRALIA. ANIC. Northern Territory. #10–18280: Croker Island, 3.xi.1980, L.R. Miller.

Other material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Authors' collection. Fly. # PNGT 1408: Morehead, 22.iii.1989, YR & ML.

Diagnosis. Soldiers of this species ( Figs 25–26 ) can be difficult to distinguish from M. sunteri . However, it has more prominent postmentum and lateral tubercles as well as longer and narrower frontal tubercle which is directed more forward ( Miller 1991). For additional description see Miller (1991), for measurements see Tables 10–11 and 18 . New Guinean specimens of this species differ from Australian ones in having a shorter frontal projection more lifted upward. Minor differences also exist in the shape of worker mandibles. However, we judge these differences insufficient to recognize two species. Moreover, Miller (1991) pointed out the great variation of form and size of this species along its geographical distribution.

Distribution (Fig. 65). We collected this species only once, at Morehead (Fly), in Southern Papuan savannas. This is about 22 km E of Rouku where it was previously recorded by Miller (1991). This species is also known from Queensland and Northern Territory ( Miller 1991, Watson & Abbey 1993: 115).

Head length to apex of the labrum 1.30 Head length to clypeo-frontal suture 0.81 Head width with eyes 1.21 Eye maximum diameter 0.29 Ocellus maximum length 0.12 Pronotum length 0.73 Pronotum width 1.03 Head length to apex of frontal tubercle 1.40–1.48 Head length to anterolateral corner of the genae 1.25–1.34 Head depth with postmentum 0.72–0.76 Head depth without postmentum 0.92–0.98 Head maximum width 1.13–1.14 Pronotum width 0.67–0.72 Left mandible length 2.44–2.50 Postmentum minimum width 0.27–0.30 Distance between tips of lateral tubercles 0.73–0.77

Figures

FIGURE 63. Worker digestive tract of Macrognathotermes errator. From left to right: dorsal view, right view, ventral view and left view. Mesenteron stippled. Arrows indicate the direction of transit.

FIGURES 25 – 28. Macrognathotermes errator: 25, soldier head, dorsal; 26, soldier head, lateral; 27, enteric valve; 28, worker mandibles. Scale bars: 25, 1 mm; 26, 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 56. Alate. Protocapritermes odontomachus: 45, head; 46, pronotum. Ephelotermes paleatus: 47, head; 48, pronotum. Ephelotermes cheeli: 49, head; 50, pronotum. Lophotermes brevicephalus: 51, head; 52, pronotum. Macrognathotermes errator: 53, head; 54, pronotum. Pericapritermes parvus sp. nov.: 55, head; 56, pronotum. Scale bars: 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 56, 0.2 mm; 45, 51, 53, 55, 0.5 mm.