Caetetermes fontesi, Scheffrahn, 2022

Scheffrahn, Rudolf H., 2022, Caetetermes fontesi, a new nasutiform termite (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) from French Guiana, Zootaxa 5219 (6), pp. 593-600 : 594-597

Caetetermes fontesi sp. nov.

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Luiz Roberto Fontes who described Caetetermes , numerous other termite taxa, and demonstrated the importance of gut morphology of Neotropical termites.

Soldier ( Fig. 1 , 2 ; Table 1 ). Monomorphic. Head capsule yellowish brown with lighter patches at posterior and area between constriction and nasus; nasus darkest. In dorsal view, posterior lobe of head capsule rounded, about 1.5X wider than anterior lobe; lateral margins of anterior lobe barely rounded; nasus narrowly cylindrical, tapering to point in last tenth of length. Mandibles without points. In lateral view, head capsule with two undulations, a smaller one above the anterior lobe and a larger on above the posterior lobe; a pair of long setae projecting from the middle of each lobe. Nasus with about 60 short setae from anterior third to apex. In dorsal view anterior margin of pronotum almost straight, with semicircular anterolateral margins, and tapering to a narrow emarginate posterior margin; microscopic hairs along anterior margin of pronotum. Tergites with 8-12 long setae near posterior margins and many finer hairs scattered throughout. Legs long, with scattered long setae and fine hair throughout. Antennae long, with 15 articles, formula 2<3>4≥5.

Comparisons. The soldier head capsule of C. taquarussu shows substantial variability, particularly for the relative widths of the anterior and posterior lobes, the degree of constriction, and the width of the nasus from specimens taken in Brazil ( Cuezzo et al. 2015a) and Ecuador ( Fontes 1981). I am inclined to consider the two specimens from Ecuador and French Guyana ( Fig. 3 ) to be heterospecific with the specimen from Ecuador ( Fig. 3A, B ) possibly being a new species. Future studies are needed to determine the character range of C. taquarussu . Nevertheless, in addition to differences of the nasus, the soldier of C. fontesi is larger in every measurement, the head capsule has a darker, more patched coloration, and has a less defined constriction.

Winged Imago ( Fig. 4 , Table 2 ). The description of C. taquarussu by Cuezzo et al. (2015a) is essentially identical to that of C. fontesi including the antennal article formula (2<3>4≥5) as gleaned from their fig. 2. Subtle differences in Fig. 4 and their fig. 2 most likely stem from the differences between my wet male specimen ( Fig. 3 ) and their dried specimen (fig. 2, gender unknown). Caetetermes fontesi imagos are a bit larger in some measurements.

Worker (Fig, 2, 5: Table 3 ). Dimorphic. Head capsule pale reddish brown. In dorsal view, head outline trapezoidal; four setae on dorsum, two near occiput and two more anterior. Antennae with 15 articles, formula 2>3<4=5. Broadgap major workers are more common than narrow-gap minor workers. Enteric valve armature identical in both morphs; composed of a band of six delicate anterior cushions followed by a band of six more robust posterior cushions. Anterior cushions with about 5-16 pointed scales. Posterior cushions adorned with about 12-22 thorns; thorns near the trailing margin (posterior) much longer. Gut and mandibles as in Cuezzo et al. (2015).

Comparisons. Both worker morphs of C. fontesi are larger than those of C. taquarussu but are otherwise similar in all respects except for the EVA. Both cushion bands of the C. fontesi EVA have thicker, more robust thorns than those of C. taquarussu with the most notable difference in that the trailing thorns are the longer in the former.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Caetetermes fontesi soldier: A, dorsal view of head capsule; B, lateral view of head capsule; C, dorsal habitus of preserved specimen; D, dorsal view of thorax and anterior abdomen.

FIGURE 2. Live habitus of Caetetermes fontesi foragers.

FIGURE 3. Caetetermes taquarussu soldier variation: A, B. C. taquarussu from Ecuador (EC1193); C, D. C. taquarussu from French Guiana (FG87).

FIGURE 4. A. dorsal view; and B. lateral view of head and pronotum of male imago of Caetetermes fontesi