Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.1206/633.1 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FD657D-1066-0578-8EEB-FA09FB7C0260 |
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Carolina |
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scientific name |
Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 |
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Genus Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890 View in CoL
Nasutitermes is the largest genus of the order Isoptera , with a circumtropical distribution. Of the total of 262 living species and subspecies, 71 are Neotropical, 10 of which are found in the West Indies, with three species from Hispaniola (table 1). The species of this genus are found in a variety of ecological habitats, with a great variation in feeding habits and nest construction. Many construct large terrestrial mounds, others build underground or arboreal nests. Their preferred diet is wood, and many species build runways of soil and carton to get to the wood source. Until now, one fossil species from Dominican amber, based on the soldier caste, and one fossil species from Mexican amber, based on the imago caste, have been known. Seven new fossil species, six based on the imago caste and one on the soldier, are described here.
TABLE 8 Measurements (mm) of imagoes of three new species of Atlantitermes
Nasutitermes amplioculatus , new species
Figures 21 View Fig , 23 View Fig ; table 9
DIAGNOSIS: Nasutitermes amplioculatus resembles N. magnocellus and N. incisus , n. spp., in having large eyes. It differs from both in having slightly smaller eyes and a small, dotlike fontanelle (vs. oblong in N. magnocellus and large and round in N. incisus ).
DESCRIPTION: Imago: Head and pronotum dark brown; postclypeus lighter than head; antennae brownish. Head densely covered with short setae; pronotum with several short setae, longer setae along margins; tergites and sternites densely covered with long setae; forewing scale with several long setae; anterior margin of forewing with a row of short setae; wing membrane with dotlike punctations. Head longer than wide. Eyes large, oval, bulging laterally. Ocelli oval viewed dorsally, almost touching eyes. Fontanelle very small; located on a level with the dorsal margin of eyes, 0.28 mm from posterior margin of head. Postclypeus arched; length less than half its width (length to width index 0.41). Antennae broken, with 15 articles visible; third shorter than second and fourth; second subequal to fourth. Pronotum narrower than head; anterior margin slightly concave; posterolateral margins widely rounded; posterior margin with a faint medial indentation.
SPECIMEN: Holotype (imago) AMNH DR10- 1680 About AMNH .
ETYMOLOGY: This new species name is a combination of the Latin prefix ampli - ‘‘large’’, and oculatus, ‘‘of eyes’’.
Nasutitermes incisus , new species
Figures 21 View Fig , 23 View Fig ; table 9
DIAGNOSIS: Nasutitermes incisus differs from all of the other Nasutitermes fossil species described here in having very large eyes and the anterior margin of the pronotum deeply incised.
DESCRIPTION: Imago: Head and pronotum dark brown; wings light brown, membrane clear. Head and pronotum densely covered with long setae; legs, tergites, and sternites densely covered with setae; wing scales with long setae; anterior margin of forewing with a row of short setae; wing membrane with dotlike punctations. Head oblong. Eyes large, ovalish, bulging. Ocelli from side view round, touching eyes. Fontanelle round; diameter 0.08 mm; located between eyes, about 0.56 mm from posterior margin of head. Postclypeus arched; length less than half its width (length to width index 0.37). Antennae with 15 articles visible; second longer than third or fourth; third subequal to fourth. Pronotum narrower than head; anterior margin deeply incised; posterior margin with a deep medial indentation.
SPECIMEN: Holotype (imago) AMNH PB- 263 .
ETYMOLOGY: This new species name is from the Latin incisus , ‘‘incised’’, referring to the deeply incised pronotum.
Nasutitermes magnocellus , new species
Figure 24 View Fig ; table 9
DIAGNOSIS: Nasutitermes magnocellus , n. sp., differs from all the other fossil species of this genus in having a very large ocellus that is also forked at the anterior end.
DESCRIPTION: Imago: Head brown; pronotum and postclypeus brown, lighter than head; antennae brownish; wings yellowish. Head densely covered with short setae, interspersed with a few longer setae; pronotum with several short setae, longer setae along margins; sternites, tergites, and legs densely covered with setae; forewing scale with several long setae; anterior margin of forewing with a row of short setae; wing membrane with dotlike punctations. Head longer than wide; right side not visible due to poor preservation. Eyes large, roundish, bulging laterally. Ocelli large, oval, almost touching eyes (about 0.02 mm). Fontanelle large, oblong, faintly forked at tip; located between eyes, about 0.56 mm from posterior margin of head. Postclypeus faintly arched; length less than half its width (length to width index 0.33). Antennae with 15 articles; articles appear elongated, due to poor preservation; second, third, and fourth appear equal in size. Pronotum narrower than head; anterior margin widely concave; posterolateral
TABLE 9 Measurements (mm) of imagoes of six new species of Nasutitermes corners broadly rounded; posterior margin with a deep medial indentation. Hind tibia long. Forewing (partial) 10.00 mm long.
SPECIMEN: Holotype (imago) AMNH DR15- 1252 About AMNH .
ETYMOLOGY: This new species name is a combination of the root of Latin magnus, ‘‘large’’, and ocellus.
Nasutitermes medioculatus , new species
Figures 21 View Fig , 24 View Fig ; table 9
DIAGNOSIS: Nasutitermes medioculatus is close to N. pilosus and N. seminudus , n. spp., in the size of its eyes. It differs from N. pilosus in having a larger fontanelle, larger eyes, a wider head, and longer ocelli. It differs from N. seminudus in having a larger fontanelle, larger eyes, and its head and pronotum more densely covered with setae.
DESCRIPTION: Imago: Head and pronotum chestnut brown; postclypeus lighter than head; antennae brownish; legs yellowish. Head moderately covered with short setae, along with a few longer setae; pronotum with several short setae, longer setae along margins; forewing scale with several long setae; anterior margin of forewing with a row of short setae; wing membrane with dotlike punctations. Head oval. Eyes roundish, bulging laterally. Ocelli oval, close to eyes (about 0.03 mm). Fontanelle long, ovalish, forked at tip; located between eyes, about 0.36 mm from posterior margin of head. Postclypeus faintly arched; length less than half its width (length to width index 0.39). Antennae broken, with only five articles visible; third very short; fourth subequal to second. Pronotum narrower than head; anterior margin widely concave; posterolateral corners broadly rounded; posterior margin with a deep medial indentation.
SPECIMEN: Holotype (imago) AMNH DR14- 643 About AMNH .
ETYMOLOGY: This new species name is a combination of the Latin prefix medi -, ‘‘medium’’, and oculatus, ‘‘of eyes’’.
Nasutitermes pilosus , new species
Figures 22 View Fig , 25 View Fig , 26 View Fig ; table 9
DIAGNOSIS: Nasutitermes pilosus resembles N. seminudus , n. sp., but differs from it in having smaller eyes, a differently shaped fontanelle (round vs. oval in N. seminudus ), a pronotum with its posterior margin broadly emarginate (vs. deeply notched medially in N. seminudus ), and its head and pronotum densely covered with setae.
DESCRIPTION: Imago: Head brown; postclypeus lighter than head; pronotum, antennae, and legs yellowish. Head and pronotum densely covered with a fine mat of short setae, along with several longer setae; forewing scale with a few long setae; anterior margin of forewing with
n. sp., AMNH DR15-1252. B. N. medioculatus n. sp., AMNH DR14-643 (head slightly distorted).
a row of short setae; wing membrane with dotlike punctations. Head oblong. Eyes small, nearly round. Ocelli small, oval, close (about 0.03 mm) to eyes. Fontanelle small, circular, located between eyes, about 0.36 mm from posterior margin of head. Postclypeus nearly flat; length less than half its width (length to width index 0.40). Antennae with 15 articles; third very short; fourth subequal to second. Pronotum narrower than head; anterior margin widely concave; posterior margin broadly emarginate. Forewing with median vein branched (four branches); cubitus with 6–7 branches.
SPECIMEN: Holotype (imago) AMNH DR10- 1627 About AMNH .
ETYMOLOGY: This new species is named from the Latin pilosus , ‘‘hairy’’.
Nasutitermes seminudus , new species
Figures 22 View Fig , 25 View Fig , 26 View Fig ; table 9
DIAGNOSIS: Nasutitermes seminudus resembles N. pilosus , n. sp., but differs from it in having larger eyes, a differently shaped fontanelle (oval, vs. round in N. pilosus ), a pronotum deeply notched medially, and its head and pronotum with few setae.
DESCRIPTION: Imago: Head and pronotum brown; postclypeus lighter than head; antennae yellowish; forewing scale brownish. Head with very few setae; pronotum with a few short setae on surface, a few long setae along margins; forewing scale with a few moderately sized setae; anterior margin of forewing with a row of short setae; wing membrane with punctations, no setae visible. Head nearly oval. Eyes small, roundish. Ocelli ovalish, not touching eyes (0.03 mm from eyes). Fontanelle slitlike; located about 0.38 mm from posterior margin of head. Postclypeus arched; length less than half its width (length to width index 0.34). Antennae with 15 articles; third shortest; fourth subequal to second. Pronotum narrower than head; anterior margin broadly concave; posterior margin with a deep medial indentation. Forewing with median branched apically. Cubitus with 10 branches.
SPECIMEN: Holotype (imago) AMNH DR10-1574 About AMNH .
ETYMOLOGY: This new species is a combination of the Latin prefix semi-, ‘‘partially’’, and nudus, ‘‘naked, bare’’.
Key to the species of Nasutitermes imagoes in Dominican amber
1. Eyes large; diameter 0.41–0.56 mm ....... 2
— Eyes medium-sized or small; diameter 0.26– 0.37 mm ........................ 4
2. Ocelli small; length 0.13–0.15 mm ....... 3
— Ocelli large; length 0.23 mm; eye diameter 0.51 mm; fontanelle oblong, forked on front (fig. 24A)............. N. magnocellus View in CoL
3. Eye diameter 0.56 mm; fontanelle large, round; pronotal width 1.10 mm; anterior margin of pronotum deeply incised (fig. 23B).............................. N. incisus View in CoL
— Eye diameter 0.41 mm; fontanelle small, dotlike; pronotal width 0.79 mm; anterior margin of pronotum not deeply incised (fig. 23A)............ N. amplioculatus View in CoL
4. Head and pronotum densely covered with setae........................... 5
— Head and pronotum sparsely covered with setae (fig. 25B)........... N. seminudus View in CoL
5. Eye diameter 0.26 mm; fontanelle small; head width 0.87 mm; ocellus length 0.09 mm (fig. 25A)................. N. pilosus View in CoL
— Eye diameter 0.31 mm; fontanelle large; head width 0.94 mm; ocellus length 0.13 mm (fig. 24B)............. N. medioculatus View in CoL
| AMNH |
American Museum of Natural History |
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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