Coptotermes Wasmann, 1896

Bourguignon, Thomas & Roisin, Yves, 2011, Revision of the termite family Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) in New Guinea, ZooKeys 148, pp. 55-103 : 57-58

Genus Coptotermes Wasmann, 1896

Termes ( Coptotermes ) Wasmann 1896: 629.

Type species.

Termes gestroi Wasmann, 1896, by monotypy.

Diagnosis.

Imago head circular, covered by many setae. Fontanelle indistinct and appearing as a small spot in the middle of the head. Large ocelli located above the eyes. Pronotum and abdomen densely hairy. Soldiers with pyriform head capsule, slightl y hairy. Fontanelle very large, directed forward, through which the latex-like secretion of the frontal gland is discharged. Labrum short, triangular-shaped. Mandibles narrow and elongated, curved at tip; right mandible without subsidiary teeth and serrations; left one with a basal tooth and serrations. Antennae with 12 to 16 articles.

Distribution.

The genus Coptotermes is broadly distributed, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions. It comprises species adapted to all major biomes, from tropical rainforest to arid steppes and deserts. Nests are generally found in logs, in the heartwood of living trees, or underground ( Emerson 1971). Several species, such as Coptotermes formosanus , are major pests of buildings ( Su and Scheffrahn 2000).