Termitaradus

Grimaldi, David A. & Engel, Michael S., 2008, A Termite Bug in Early Miocene Amber of the Dominican Republic (Hemiptera: Termitaphididae), American Museum Novitates 3619 (1), pp. 1-12 : 2-8

Termitaradus sp.; Grimaldi and Engel, 2005:

329, fig. 8.76.

Figures 1–3

DIAGNOSIS: The new species is similar to T. protera in Mexican amber as both share a greater number of lobules (4) on the terminal abdominal segment than any modern species (2–3 in living species). Unlike T. protera , however, the Dominican amber species is more similar in size and proportions to modern species (length 3.57 mm vs. an anomalously large 7.1 mm in T. protera ), and is not as wide (L/ W 5 1.59 in T. avitinquilinus vs. 1.41 in T. protera ). In addition, the number of lobules on most of the segmental lobes differs notably from that of T. protera (refer to values in description); abdomen dorsally with paramedian, longitudinal ridges, and the marginal setae, like many modern species, are serrate. In lobule number the Dominican species more closely approximates those of modern species, particularly some of the Old World species, but seems to fall into an intermediate position between those taxa and T. protera .

DESCRIPTION: Female (adult). Description based largely on holotype female, with ranges and other variation also from paratypes. Total length 3.57 mm; maximal width 2.24 mm. Integument generally reddish brown, although paler on sterna, lobules largely reddish brown although slightly lighter than body of laminae, apices of lobules more weakly sclerotized and paler than remainder; marginal setae typically light reddish brown although some cleared and faint (the latter clearly owing to preservation); ventrally faintly imbricate, without punctures; dorsally faintly imbricate without punctures, minutely and weakly granulose on body (cf. fig. 5C), with scattered, sparsely serrate setae except on laminae and on head, more sparse on pro- and meso-thoracic segments, such setae with golden coloration. Encrustations of fungi on thoracic nota (fig. 1C). Antenna four-segmented, geniculate; first article elongate, length approximately equal to that of distal three segments combined; second and third cylindrical but short, combined length about as long as apicalmost article; apicalmost article slightly swollen, elongate, approximately one-half the length of first article (cf. fig. 4C). Basal antennomere with subapical patch of granules (sensilla? glandular pores?), apical antennomere with finely textured subapical patch (sensilla?). Granular patches similar to that on apex basal antennomere also occur along most of the length of each tibia (fig. 3). Labium foursegmented (cf. fig. 4C), basalmost segment slightly longer than others. Coiled stylets visible beneath cleared cuticle of clypeus in paratype M3515A (fig. 3).

Legs with stout femora, greatest widths of femora 3–4X that of tibiae; tarsi dimerous, basal tarsomere one-half the size of apical one; claws large, without subapical teeth; pulvilli present, slender, and straplike, lengths approximately equal to that of claws (cf. fig. 5A). Foretibia with longitudinal row of ca. six fine, erect setae. Apices of mid- and hind tibiae with transverse row of approximately five short, stiff, sclerotized setae. Base of hind femur with ventral patch of ca. eight short, stiff setae.

Marginal setae generally subtriangular to lanceolate in form, those of head slightly more elongate, in well-preserved setae margins are clearly serrate; none are clavate (e.g., fig. 5B), including ones on head. Fourteen marginal laminae present (three for head, first distinctly larger than second and with small separation; three for thorax [one lobule per thoracic segment]; and one each for the eight abdom- inal segments). Laminae with lobules arranged as follows: 13–15, 4–6, and 9–10 on head laminae; 8–10 on thoracic segments; 10 on first abdominal; 12 on second abdominal; 12 on third abdominal; 9 on fourth abdominal; 10 on fifth abdominal; 10 on sixth abdominal; 7 on seventh abdominal; and 4 on eighth abdominal. Abdomen dorsally with paramedial, longitudinal ridges.

HOLOTYPE: Female, AMNH DR-14-425 , Miocene amber (Burdigalian), Dominican Republic; deposited in the Amber Fossil Collection , Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York.

PARATYPES: Females , M-3515 A and B (see fig. 2), Miocene amber (Burdigalian), Dominican Republic ; deposited in the Morone Amber Collection, Turin, Italy.

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin terms avitus (‘‘ancestral’’, literally ‘‘of or relating to a grandfather’’) and inquilinus (‘‘lodger’’).

Figures

Fig. 1. Photomicrographs of the holotype (AMNH DR 14-425) of Termitaradus avitinquilinus, sp. n., in Miocene Dominican amber. A. Dorsal habitus; B. Ventral habitus. C. Detail of dorsum, showing segmentation and fungal encrustation. D. Detail of abdominal lamina. E. Detail of terminal lamina.

Fig. 2. Termitaradus avitinquilinus paratypes (M3515A, B) preserved with a worker of Mastotermes electrodominicus. A. Dorsal view of termite. B. Ventral view.

Fig. 3. Termitaradus avitinquilinus paratype, M3515 A, ventral view of anterior half, showing details of head and thoracic appendages.