Taxonomic assessment of the termite genus Neotermes (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in the Ryukyu-Taiwan Island arc, with description of a new species
Author
Yashiro, Toshihisa
Author
Takematsu, Yoko
Author
Ogawa, Naoki
Author
Matsuura, Kenji
text
Zootaxa
2019
2019-05-15
4604
3
549
561
journal article
26823
10.11646/zootaxa.4604.3.10
e12b1516-6759-4f52-96ac-208050b51a4b
1175-5326
2836233
90A92C44-082D-4083-AD85-BCDAE47791D7
Neotermes sugioi
Yashiro
,
sp. nov.
Japanese name: Sugio-shiroari
(
Figs 3–17
)
Imago:
Head capsule and pronotum reddish brown; abdominal tergites paler than head capsule; compound eyes black; ocelli translucent; mandibles blackish brown apically, paler posteriorly; antennae reddish brown basally, paler apically; labrum, postmentum, legs, and abdominal sternites pale yellowish brown; wing-scales and sclerotized veins brownish, remainder of wings brownish subhyaline.
Head capsule subquadrate, sides slightly broadening posteriorly, posterior margin convex in dorsal view; frons sloping gently anteriorly in lateral view; Y-suture distinct; fairly hairy with long and short setae on body. Compound eyes subcircular in lateral view; slightly protruding in dorsal view; situated very close to antennal bases. Ocelli oval in lateral view; slightly protruding in dorsal view; situated very close to compound eyes. Left mandible with 2 marginal teeth. Right mandible with 2 marginal teeth. Labrum subquadrate, sides convex, anterior margin substraight in dorsal view; with long setae anteriorly, long and short setae on body. Antennae with 17–20 articles, 1>2=3>4<5; fairly hairy with long and short setae. Postmentum suboctagonal, sides subparallel in ventral view; with long and short setae on margins and body.
TABLE 1. Comparison of measurements of imagos and soldiers between Ryukyu and Taiwanese individuals of the
Neotermes
termites
Measurementa
|
Ryukyu individuals (
n
= 60)
|
Taiwanese individuals (
n
= 14)
|
Range (mm) |
Mean ± SD |
Range (mm) |
Mean ± SD |
Imagos
|
HW |
1.55–1.89 |
1.73 ± 0.08 |
1.59–1.79 |
1.68 ± 0.08 |
HL |
1.50–1.72 |
1.60 ± 0.05 |
1.48–1.68 |
1.59 ± 0.07 |
ED |
0.51–0.64 |
0.57 ± 0.03 |
0.54–0.64 |
0.58 ± 0.03 |
OD |
0.16–0.25 |
0.19 ± 0.02 |
0.19–0.25 |
0.22 ± 0.02 |
LML |
0.67–0.80 |
0.72 ± 0.03 |
0.66–0.76 |
0.70 ± 0.03 |
RML |
0.59–0.68 |
0.63 ± 0.02 |
0.58–0.69 |
0.62 ± 0.03 |
LW |
0.58–0.66 |
0.62 ± 0.02 |
0.55–0.64 |
0.60 ± 0.03 |
LL |
0.50–0.59 |
0.54 ± 0.02 |
0.48–0.57 |
0.53 ± 0.03 |
PmW1 |
0.50–0.61 |
0.56 ± 0.02 |
0.53–0.61 |
0.58 ± 0.03 |
PmL |
0.83–0.97 |
0.89 ± 0.03 |
0.83–0.95 |
0.90 ± 0.04 |
PnW |
1.74–2.07 |
1.92 ± 0.09 |
1.76–2.14 |
1.97 ± 0.11 |
PnL |
0.77–1.04 |
0.94 ± 0.05 |
0.87–1.04 |
0.95 ± 0.06 |
FWL |
11.30–13.79 |
12.49 ± 0.58 |
11.30–13.71 |
12.82 ± 0.75 |
HWL |
10.53–12.80 |
11.59 ± 0.58 |
10.68–12.63 |
11.83 ± 0.68 |
TL |
1.35–1.78 |
1.50 ± 0.07 |
1.35–1.63 |
1.48 ± 0.07 |
Soldiers
|
HW |
1.93–2.62 |
2.32 ± 0.13 |
2.06–2.41 |
2.23 ± 0.12 |
HL |
2.88–3.80 |
3.35 ± 0.21 |
3.12–3.73 |
3.40 ± 0.23 |
HH |
1.56–2.04 |
1.79 ± 0.11 |
1.62–1.95 |
1.79 ± 0.11 |
ESD |
0.20–0.42 |
0.29 ± 0.04 |
0.11–0.34 |
0.25 ± 0.06 |
LML |
1.70–2.13 |
1.95 ± 0.09 |
1.96–2.21 |
2.08 ± 0.08 |
RML |
1.65–2.04 |
1.87 ± 0.09 |
1.90–2.14 |
2.00 ± 0.09 |
LW |
0.50–0.60 |
0.54 ± 0.02 |
0.46–0.57 |
0.52 ± 0.03 |
LL |
0.39–0.49 |
0.43 ± 0.02 |
0.40–0.50 |
0.45 ± 0.03 |
PmW2 |
0.65–0.82 |
0.75 ± 0.04 |
0.80–0.96 |
0.88 ± 0.05 |
PmW3 |
0.23–0.42 |
0.31 ± 0.04 |
0.31–0.42 |
0.37 ± 0.03 |
PmL |
2.02–2.77 |
2.36 ± 0.16 |
2.21–2.88 |
2.46 ± 0.25 |
PnW |
1.90–2.84 |
2.40 ± 0.19 |
2.11–2.76 |
2.36 ± 0.20 |
PnL |
0.88–1.35 |
1.10 ± 0.10 |
0.90–1.21 |
1.07 ± 0.10 |
TL |
1.46–1.88 |
1.65 ± 0.10 |
1.41–1.77 |
1.58 ± 0.12 |
See also Appendix 1 for ranges of measurements within males and females.
a
For abbreviations of measurements see Materials and methods.
Pronotum subrectangular, sides convex, anterior margin strongly concave, posterior margin faintly concave medially in dorsal view; fairly hairy with long and short setae on margins and body. Wing membrane non-tuberculate, with short setae on wing scales and along costal margins. Forewing subcosta meeting costa at about 2/5th of wing; radius meeting costa-subcosta at about middle; radial sector with 5 branches to costa-subcosta; media with 6–8 transverse veins to radial sector; area between media and cubitus reticulate; cubitus with 11–12 branches to posterior margin. Hindwing radius meeting costa-subcosta at about 2/3th of wing; radial sector with 4–5 branches to costa-subcosta; median originating from radial sector at about 1/3th of wing; cubitus with 10–11 branches. Legs with tibial spurs 3:3:3; tarsi 4-jointed; arolium present.
FIGURES 3–4.
Neotermes sugioi
sp. nov.
(left) and
N
.
koshunensis
(right). 3, habitus of imagos, dorsal view; 4, habitus of soldiers, dorsal view. Scale bars, 2 mm.
FIGURES 5–6.
Neotermes sugioi
sp. nov.
(left) and
N
.
koshunensis
(right). 5, left forewings of imagos, dorsal view; 6, left hindwings of imagos, dorsal view. Scale bars, 2 mm.
Soldier:
Head capsule reddish brown, paler posteriorly; eye spots translucent; mandibles blackish brown apically, reddish brown basally; labrum yellowish to reddish brown; antennae reddish brown basally, paler apically; postmentum reddish brown, paler posteriorly; pronotum, legs, and abdomen yellowish white.
Head capsule subrectangular, sides subparallel, posterior margin weakly convex in dorsal view; frons sloping anteriorly toward clypeus at an angle of 25–40° in lateral view with shallow medial depression; Y-suture present, not distinct; sparsely hairy with long and short setae on body. Eye spots oval in lateral view; distinctly tuberculate; situated close to antennal bases. Left mandible robust; incurved apically; with 3 distinct marginal teeth; humped basally at outer margin. Right mandible robust; incurved apically; with 2 prominent marginal teeth; humped basally at outer margin. Labrum subquadrate, sides subparallel, anterior margin subparallel to posterior margin in dorsal view; with long setae anteriorly, long and short setae on body. Antennae with 13–17 articles, 1>2<3>4<5, 2>4; fairly hairy with long and short setae. Postmentum long, club-shaped in ventral view; with long and short setae on body.
FIGURES 7–11.
SEM images of imagos of
Neotermes sugioi
sp. nov
.
(left) and
N
.
koshunensis
(right). 7, head capsules, dorsal view; 8, head capsules, ventral view; 9, left mandibles, dorsal view; 10, right mandibles, dorsal view; 11, pronota, dorsal view. Pm, postmentum. Scale bars, 500 μm.
Pronotum subrectangular, sides convex, anterior margin weakly concave, posterior margin substraight in dorsal view; fairly hairy with long and short setae on margins and body. Legs with tibial spurs 3:3:3; tarsi 4-jointed; arolium absent.
Type material.
Holotype
:
³ soldier
(in alcohol),
Chibana
,
Okinawa
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°21’50”N
,
127°48’39”E
,
93 m
,
24. iv. 2013
, collected by T. Yashiro.
Paratypes
: 1³
1♀
soldiers (in alcohol), same data as ho- lotype; 2³
2♀
soldiers (dry-mounted), same data as holotype; 1³
1♀
imagos (dry-mounted), 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Chibana
,
Okinawa
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°21’45”N
,
127°48’38”E
,
85 m
,
24. iv. 2013
,
collected by
T
.
Yashiro
; 4³
4♀
imagos, 4³
4♀
soldiers, and 8 pseudergates (in alcohol), Katsur- enhaebaru,
Uruma
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°19’57”N
,
127°52’35”E
,
38 m
,
2. vii. 2014
, collected by Y. Miya- guni; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Ogido
,
Kitanakagusuku
,
Nakagami
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°17’35”N
,
127°47’45”E
,
134 m
,
2. vii. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Okuma
,
Nakagusuku
,
Nakagami
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°15’29”N
,
127°47’03”E
,
43 m
,
1. vii. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in al- cohol),
Tsuha
,
Nakagusuku
,
Nakagami
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°14’51”N
,
127°46’50”E
,
34 m
,
2. vii. 2014
, col- lected by Y. Miyaguni; 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Iso
,
Urasoe
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°15’27”N
,
127°43’22”E
,
77 m
,
25. iv. 2013
,
collected by
T
.
Yashiro
; 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Nakama
,
Urasoe
,
Okinawa
Island
,
Japan
,
26°15’09”N
,
127°43’35”E
,
116 m
,
25. iv. 2013
,
collected by
T
.
Yashiro
; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Hirarahigashinakasonezoe
,
Miyakojima
,
Miyako Island
,
Japan
,
24°47’57”N
,
125°19’07”E
,
52 m
,
4. ii. 2014
,
collected by
T
.
Yashiro
; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Nosoko
,
Ishigaki
,
Ishigaki Island
,
Japan
,
24°30’56”N
,
124°15’26”E
,
53 m
,
28. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Fukai
,
Ishigaki
,
Ishigaki Island
,
Japan
,
24°27’17”N
,
124°11’28”E
,
30 m
,
28. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Tonoshiro
,
Ishigaki
,
Ishigaki Island
,
Japan
,
24°22’50”N
,
124°10’31”E
,
99 m
,
28. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Komi
,
Taketomi
,
Yaeyama
,
Iriomote Island
,
Japan
,
24°19’11”N
,
123°54’39”E
,
5 m
,
27. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 2³
2♀
imagos, 2³
2♀
soldiers, and 4 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Haimi
, Take- tomi,
Yaeyama
,
Iriomote Island
,
Japan
,
24°16’23”N
,
123°49’51”E
,
40 m
,
26. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Mt. Inbidake
,
Yonaguni
,
Yaeyama
,
Yonaguni Island
,
Japan
,
24°26’58”N
,
122°59’57”E
,
164 m
,
16. iv. 2013
,
collected by
T
.
Yashiro
; 5³
5♀
imagos, 5³
5♀
soldiers, and 10 pseudergates (in alcohol),
Yonaguni
,
Yonaguni
,
Yaeyama
,
Yonaguni Island
,
Japan
,
24°26’44”N
,
122°58’26”E
,
34 m
,
24. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni
; 1³
1♀
imagos, 1³
1♀
soldiers, and 2 pseudergates (in alcohol), Yona- guni,
Yonaguni
,
Yaeyama
,
Yonaguni Island
,
Japan
,
24°27’23”N
,
122°58’34”E
,
102 m
,
25. vi. 2014
, collected by
Y. Miyaguni.
FIGURES 12–14.
SEM images of soldiers of
Neotermes sugioi
sp. nov.
(left) and
N
.
koshunensis
(right). 12, head capsules, dorsal view; 13, head capsules, lateral view; 14, head capsules, ventral view. Pm, postmentum. Scale bars, 500 μm.
Type-repository:
The
holotype
(registration number B2324169) is deposited in the Museum of Nature and Human Activities,
Hyogo
,
Japan
.
Paratypes
are deposited in the
Museum of Nature
and
Human Activities
,
Hyogo
,
Japan
;
the
National Museum of Nature
and
Science
,
Tokyo
,
Japan
;
and the
Laboratory of Insect Ecology
,
Kyoto
University,
Kyoto
,
Japan
.
Etymology.
This species is named in honor of Professor Koji Sugio, a Japanese entomologist and expert in the biology of this species.
Geographic distribution.
Ryukyu Archipelago (
Okinawa
islands and Sakishima Islands),
Japan
(
Fig. 18
).
FIGURES 15–17.
SEM images of soldiers of
Neotermes sugioi
sp. nov.
(left) and
N
.
koshunensis
(right). 15, left mandibles, dorsal view; 16, right mandibles, dorsal view; 17, pronota, dorsal view. Scale bars, 500 μm.
Remarks.
Neotermes sugioi
forms a species complex with the allopatric species
N
.
koshunensis
but is distinguished from
N
.
koshunensis
in the soldier by having a proportionally narrower postmentum (PmW2/HW =
0.28–0.36 in
N
.
sugioi
, PmW2/HW =
0.38–0.40 in
N
.
koshunensis
) (
Fig. 14
). In imagos, overlapping wings of
N
.
sugioi
are almost always darker than that of
N
.
koshunensis
(
Fig. 3
). In addition,
N
.
sugioi
is distinguished from those of other 18 East Asian
Neotermes
species in the soldier by having antennae where the fourth article is the shortest, having a wider head capsule (HW/HL = 0.65–0.76), or measurements (
Table 1
) (
Huang
et al.
2000
;
Tan & Peng 2009
).