Protocapritermes Holmgren

Bourguignon, Thomas, Leponce, Maurice & Roisin, Yves, 2008, Revision of the Termitinae with snapping soldiers (Isoptera: Termitidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 1769, pp. 1-34 : 4

Genus Protocapritermes Holmgren

Protocapritermes Holmgren, 1912: 108 .

Type-species, fixed by monotypy: Termes krisiformis Froggatt, 1898 .

Diagnosis. Soldiers of the genus Protocapritermes are characterized by their low frontal projection and lack of lateral tubercles ( Figs. 5–6 ). Soldier mandibles moderately long and slender, almost symmetrical. Tibial spurs 3:2:2. Worker left mandible index: 0.8–1.2 ( Fig. 8 ). Worker digestive tract with P3 subdivided into a small posterior section and a larger anterior one ( Figs 59–60 ). Enteric valve weakly armed with short stout spines ( Fig. 7 ). For a detailed description see Miller (1991).

Distribution. The type species of this genus occurs in coastal southeastern Australia ( Watson & Abbey 1993: 138). The second species, discussed below, is known from New Guinea and from the Bismarck and Solomon Islands.

Figures

FIGURE 59. Worker digestive tract of Protocapritermes odontomachus. From left to right: dorsal view, right view, ventral view and left view. Mesenteron stippled. Arrows indicate the direction of transit.

FIGURE 60. Worker digestive tract of Protocapritermes krisiformis. From left to right: dorsal view, right view, ventral view and left view. Mesenteron stippled. Arrows indicate the direction of transit.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Protocapritermes odontomachus: 5, soldier head, dorsal; 6, soldier head, lateral; 7, enteric valve (4 cushions out of 6); 8, worker mandibles. Scale bars: 5, 0.5 mm; 6, 1 mm.