Orthognathotermes tubesauassu, Rocha, Mauricio Martins Da & Cancello, Eliana M., 2009

Rocha, Mauricio Martins Da & Cancello, Eliana M., 2009, Revision of the Neotropical termite genus Orthognathotermes Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae), Zootaxa 2280, pp. 1-26 : 14

Orthognathotermes tubesauassu , new species

(figs. 4, 18, 30)

Holotype: soldier, part of lot MZUSP-10160, 13.xii.1990, E.M. Cancello & M.T. Ponte coll.

Type-locality: Brazil: Bahia State, Andaraí. (17º49' 48" S, 52º 30' W)

Paratypes: BRAZIL. Bahia: Vitória da Conquista: 30.vi.1970, R.L. Araujo coll. (4810); Andaraí: 12, 13.xii.1990, E.M. Cancello & M.T. Ponte coll. (10160*, 10161). Minas Gerais: Curvelo: 15.xi.1972, R.L. Araujo coll. (5582); Francisco Sá: 17.vii.1975. (5938, 5980). Paraíba: João Pessoa, Mata do Buraquinho: 1– 20.vi.2000, A. Vasconcellos coll. (11481). Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro, Jardim Zoológico: 6.i.1966, R.L. Araujo coll. (376).

Etymology: tubesauassu from Tupi “Tuba” (=father) “Esá” (=eye) and “-ûaçu” (suffix for large) in reference to imago eyes’ large size. In the latinized form, “ç” is converted to “ss”.

Imago. Eyes large, distant from the inferior margin of head by less than the larger diameter of the ocellus. Ocelli in dorsal view reniform and large, oval and remote from the eye by distance less that its minimum diameter in lateral view. Fontanelle broad and small. Head capsule covered by short hairs, scattered bristles. Labrum with bristles in two rows. Pronotum covered with denser short hairs and bristles. Mesonotum and metanotum with short hairs, concentrated on the center and posterior margins. Head sepia brown to brown, pronotum and tergites brown to pale brown, sternites pale yellow, legs pale brown and wing scales brown.

Comparisons. The imago of O. tubesauassu sp. nov. differs from those of other species by the combination of large eyes and small fontanelle. The most similar species are O. aduncus and O. wheeleri , from which it differs by the small fontanelle.

Soldier. Head sides parallel in dorsal view, flanges whit a distinct slight constriction. In profile dorsal lump salient, behind the flanges. Mandibles of the first pattern (see Material and Methods), tooth-like projection at half. Head capsule with short hairs, denser on ventral surface, and scattered bristles, microscopic hairs on entire head. Posmentum with bristles. Pronotum with short hairs and bristles, more abundant on margins. Mesonotum and metanotum with bristles on posterior margins. Abdominal tergites densely covered with bristles. Sternites covered with short hairs and erect bristles on posterior margins.

Comparisons. O. tubesauassu sp. nov. soldier has a head capsule larger than O. mirim sp. nov., O. pilosus sp. nov., and smaller than O. humilis . The most similar species is O. aduncus whose flanges do not have a slight constriction at the base.

Geographical Distribution (fig. 30). O. tubesauassu sp. nov. is recorded from rain forest and seasonal semi-deciduous forest (both inside the domain of the Atlantic Forest), from Cerrado vegetation (Curvelo, state of Minas Gerais) and Caatinga vegetation (Francisco Sá, state of Minas Gerais).