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 ).