Tonsuritermes, a new soldierless termite genus and two new species from South America (Blattaria: Isoptera: Termitidae: Apicotermitinae)
Constantini, Joice P.
Carrijo, Tiago Fernandes
Palma-Onetto, Valeria
Scheffrahn, Rudolf
Carnohan, Lucas Paul
Šobotník, Jan
Cancello, Eliana M.
Zootaxa
2018
2018-12-13
4531
3
383
394
Cancello & Constantini
Constantini & Carrijo & Palma-Onetto & Scheffrahn & Carnohan & Šobotník & Cancello
2018
[151,748,1493,1519]
Insecta
Termitidae
Tonsuritermes
GBIF
Animalia
Blattodea
6
389
Arthropoda
species
mathewsi
sp. nov.
( Figs. 2E–F; 3C; 6)
Holotype:worker from lot MZUSP 12268, (in a separate vial with the remaining sample). Type-locality: BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Chapada dos Guimarães, lat 15.4605S, long 55.7497W.
Type-repository:MZUSP Paratypes. BRASIL. Goiás: Anápolis, lat 16.3266S, long 48.9527W, DE Oliveiracoll., UEG 4075; same data of holotypesample: 04.viii.2009, TF Carrijocoll., MZUSP 12268, 12615, 27374; 04.viii.2009, MR Rochacoll., MZUSP 23920.
Diagnosis.Monomorphic worker; head capsule with long bristles of almost the same size and bristles of tergites scattered. Imago. Unknown. Worker. Monomorphic ( Fig. 2E–F). Head capsule with long bristles of almost the same size. Bristles of tergites scattered. Postclypeus hyper-inflated. Fontanelle 1/4 diameter of head capsule in dorsal view. Protibia strongly inflated, with a groove in the inner surface of the profemur. FIGURE 4. Tonsuritermes tucki sp. nov., worker. Digestive tube in A—dorsal; B—right; C—ventral; D—left views; Eenteric valve armature; F—enlarged view of the a cushion. Specimens from lots MZUSP6840 (A–E) and MZUSP 10367 (F). Gut regions indicated in figs. A–D: C=crop, G=gizzard, M=mesenteron, MS= mixed segment, P1= ileum, P2= enteric valve, P3= paunch, P4= colon, P5=rectum. Comparison and remarks.A huge variation at the head pilosity, number of spine-like bristles on the protibia, and form and size of the fontanelle were observed among the samples of the new genus, which makes the distinction of the two species quite challenging. Despite the similarity between Tonsuritermes tuckiand Tonsuritermes mathewsi, the latter, with monomorphic workers, is restricted to the Brazilian savannah, the Cerrado, while the dimorphic T. tucki, was collected primarily in forests and was sampled mostly (but not only) in forest formations. The head of T. tuckihas bristles of two sizes, and those on tergites are all pointing backwards, while in T. mathewsithe bristles are same size, long on the head, and in the tergites, the bristles are pointing in multiple directions. The postclypeous of T. mathewsiis more inflated than in T. tucki. The workers of T. mathewsiare larger than T. tucki( Tab. 2) and the fontanelle is on average lower in T. mathewsithan W2 of T. tucki. In addition, the protibia of T. mathewsiis more inflated, and the groove in the inner surface of the profemur is deeper.
Etymology. Tonsuritermes mathewsiis named in honour of A. G. Anthony Mathews for his important contribution to the taxonomy and biology of the termites of Mato Grosso, Brazil( Mathews 1977). Biological notes.Some samples were collected from derelict nests built by undetermined species of Cornitermes Wasmann, 1897in cerrado vegetation.
2116190037
[370,1076,1636,1661]
Chapada dos Guimaraes
Brazil
-15.4605
Mato Grosso
6
389
1
Mato Grosso
2116189066
2009-08-04
TF
DE Oliveira
Brazil
-16.3266
Anapolis
7
-48.9527
6
389
2
Goias
paratype
2116188960
[580,1082,1744,1769]
MZUSP
Carrijo
Brazil
6
389
MZUSP 12268, 12615, 27374
1
Goias
paratype
2116189154
2009-08-04
MZUSP
MR Rocha
Brazil
6
389
MZUSP 23920
1
Goias
paratype