Orthognathotermes wheeleri Snyder

Rocha, Mauricio Martins Da & Cancello, Eliana M., 2009, Revision of the Neotropical termite genus Orthognathotermes Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae), Zootaxa 2280, pp. 1-26 : 15

Orthognathotermes wheeleri Snyder

(figs. 3, 17, 30)

Orthognathotermes wheeleri Snyder, 1923:129 (soldier, 1);

Orthognathotermes wheeleri ; Nickle & Collins, 1992:230, 231 (soldier, 68,69).

Holotype: NMNH (soldier), not examined.

Imago. Eyes large, distant from the inferior margin of head by less than the larger diameter of the ocellus. Ocelli in dorsal view semicircular, oval and remote from the eye by a distance less that its minimum diameter in lateral view. Fontanelle broad and medium-sized. Head capsule with few short hairs, fewer on ventral surface, scattered bristles only on dorsal surface. Labrum with bristles not organized in rows. Pronotum denser covered with bristles and short hairs. Mesonotum and metanotum covered by short hairs, concentrated in the center and margins. Head sepia brown, pronotum pale brown and tergites brown to pale brown, sternites yellow, legs and wing scales pale brown.

Comparisons. The imago of O. wheeleri differs from those of other species by the large eyes and medium fontanelle. The most similar species is O. aduncus , from which it differs by the ocelli touching the eye in lateral view.

Soldier. Head with parallel sides in dorsal view. In profile dorsal lump salient, behind the flanges. Mandibles of the first pattern, tooth-like projection at proximal half. Ocellar spots visible. Head capsule with short hairs and sparse bristles, denser on ventral surface, scattered microscopic hairs sparce on entire head. Posmentum with bristles and short hairs. Pronotum with short hairs and bristles on surface, denser on margins. Mesonotum and metanotum with bristles on posterior margins. Abdominal tergites densely covered with short hairs and bristles. Sternites covered with short hairs, bristles on posterior margins.

Comparisons. O. wheeleri soldier differs from all other Orthognathotermes species by the visible ocellar spots.

Geographical distribution. Known only from two localities in Panama, the northernmost distribution of the genus.

Comments. We prefer to use the term "ocellar spot" instead of "eye spot", as used by Snyder (1923), since this structure (similar to ocellus) is placed where the ocellus is usually placed in alate's head.

Material examined. PANAMA. La jagua hunting Club, 6 Milles S.E. of Pacorá: 26.v.1935, A.E. Emerson coll. (3690*, 4389*).