Uncitermes almeriae Carrijo

Carrijo, Tiago F., Constantini, Joice P. & Scheffrahn, Rudolf H., 2016, Uncitermesalmeriae, a new termite species from Amazonia (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae), ZooKeys 595, pp. 1-6 : 2-6

Taxon classification Animalia Isoptera Termitidae

Uncitermes almeriae Carrijo sp. n.

Type-locality.

ECUADOR. Orellana: Francisco de Orellana, Yasuni National Park, -0.6717, -76.3979.

Holotype.

Soldier. 31.v.2011, R.H.Scheffrahn col., MZUSP 23117.

Paratypes.

ECUADOR. MZUSP 23117, same sample of holotype (2 soldiers, 13 workers); UF EC1066, same sample of holotype (16 soldiers, 20 workers); UF EC1000, same data of holotype (8 soldiers, 16 workers); PERU. UF PU311, 21 km South of Ciudad Constitución, -10.04915, -75.02859, 27.v.2014, R.H.Scheffrahn col. (17 soldiers, 12 workers); MZUSP 23236, duplicate of the previous (2 soldiers and 3 workers).

Imago. Unknown.

Soldier (Fig. 1). Monomorphic. Head capsule, in dorsal view, rounded. Antennae with 15 articles; relative length formula 1>2>3=4<5. In lateral view, nasus narrowly conical, forming a ca. 30° angle with base of head; dorsal margin of nasus undemarcated with margin of vertex and evenly curving along with occipital margin. Labrum rounded, anterior margin hyaline, without distinct tip. Postmentum subrectangular. Mandibles symmetrical, piercing, and hooked; narrow tooth subconical and approximately central on the inner margin. Molar region absent. When closed, in dorsal view, mandibles overlap nearly completely. Pronotum with length of anterior lobe longer than posterior lobe. Tibial spur formula 2:2:2. Head capsule covered of short bristles and sparse long bristles. Nasus covered of many short bristles and tip of nasus crowned with short bristles. Pronotum with long and short bristles along margins, denser on lateral margins, some short bristles on anterior lobe. Meso- and metanotum with long and short bristles on posterior margins; tergites and sternites completely covered by a dense layer of long bristles. Legs with many long and short bristles; thick bristles on inner face of tibia. Range and mean of measurements (mm) of six soldiers from three colonies: LH 1.30-1.40 (1.35); LN 1.43-1.58 (1.50); LLM 0.93-1.00 (0.96); WH 1.35-1.43 (1.38); WP 0.80-0.88(0.84); LT 1.68-1.80 (1.74).

Remarks.

When alive (Fig. 2) the frontal gland coloration of both Uncitermes spp. is the same as the surrounding head capsule. After ethanol preservation, the frontal gland of both species turns to a dark reddish color in contrast to the remainder of the head capsule. In some preserved soldiers, a clear, hardened defensive secretion can be seen as droplets clinging to the nasus. Unlike some Nasutitermitinae that squirt their secretion several body lengths, this genus and probably all syntermitids exude their defensive secretion with little force.

Worker (Figs 3, 4). As described and illustrated for genus by Rocha et al. (2012). Range and mean of measurements (mm) of twelve workers from three colonies: LH 0.75 - 1.00 (0.94); WH 1.13 - 1.30 (1.21); LT 1.33 - 1.50 (1.43).

Etymology.

The species name is a latinized noun in the genitive case. Uncitermes almeriae sp. n. is named in honour of Almeri Fernandes Sousa, TFC’s mother.

Biological notes.

There are no biological data published for Uncitermes almeriae sp. n. However, Uncitermes teevani is commonly sampled in rotten wood, litter, soil, dry palm tree stipes and clumps of roots, probably foraging in a soil-litter interface. There is a report of a nest of Uncitermes teevani from French Guiana under a dead trunk (in the hollow cylinder section), the nest structure was about a meter long, and the royal cell was attached to the wood, asymmetrically in the oval shaped nest structure (Jan Šobotník, personal communication).

Comparisons.

The soldier of Uncitermes almeriae sp. n. has short bristles covering all the head capsule and frontal tube, while Uncitermes teevani has only sparse long bristles on head capsule and the frontal tube is glabrous.

New records of Uncitermes teevani

(Fig. 5). BOLIVIA. UF BO458, N. San Javier, -14.5491, -64.8896, 29.v.2013, J.A. Chase col. ECUADOR. UF EC210, Yasuni National Park (P.U.C.E. Research Station), 20.iii.2006, B.W. Bahder col. UF EC999, 1001, 31.v.2011, J.R. Mangold col. UF EC1163, 1176, 1177, Tiputini river, stop 2, -0.67530, -76.36864, 01.vi.2011.