Glyptotermes chiraharitae, Amina & Rajmohana, 2016

Amina, Poovoli & Rajmohana, Keloth, 2016, Glyptotermes chiraharitae n. sp., a new dampwood termite species (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) from India, Zoosystema 38 (3), pp. 309-316 : 310

Glyptotermes chiraharitae n. sp.

( Figs 1 , 2 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — India. Kerala. Kozhikode. Kakkayam MWLS 762 m, 11.4990° N, 75.8950° E, 27.XII.2012, Amina Poovoli. Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4942. Holotype (Soldier) ; paratypes 6 pseudoworkers and 3 soldiers. — Colony code: ZSI/ WGRC /IR/INV/4943. Paratypes: 4 imagoes, 2 soldiers and 5 pseudoworkers .

ETYMOLOGY. — The species is named Chiraharita meaning evergreen (in Sanskrit), after their evergreen forest habitat.

BIOECOLOGY. — ( Fig. 3) The large sized dead log on the forest floor, from which G. chiraharitae n. sp. was collected had a very high moisture content. Though the attack was not at all visible externally, the log when cut open, exposed several large holes sealed with their faecal pellets, dissolved in a muddy paste. Networks of hidden galleries meandering through the wood were also observed. Workers and soldiers were very slow and sluggish, probably due to their large size.

Figures

FIG. 1. — A-D, Glyptotermes chiraharitae n. sp.: imago; A, body in dorsal view; B, head in profile; C, head in dorsal; D, left and right mandible; E, pseudoworker; F, soldier (S) and pseudoworkers (Pw) in dead log. Scale bars: A, E, 1 mm; B, C, 0.3 mm; D, 0.1 mm.

FIG. 2. — A-G, Glyptotermes chiraharitae n. sp. soldier: A, body in dorsal view; B, head in profile; C, head in dorsal; D, head In lateral; E, pronotum; F, postmentum; G, left and right mandibles. Scales bars: A, 1 mm; B, C, E-G, 0.3 mm; D, 0.2 mm.