Coptotermes elisae (Desneux, 1905)

Bourguignon, Thomas & Roisin, Yves, 2011, Revision of the termite family Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) in New Guinea, ZooKeys 148, pp. 55-103 : 58-60

Coptotermes elisae (Desneux, 1905) Figs 5-930

Termes ( Coptotermes ) Elisae Desneux 1905: 368.

Coptotermes Elisae Desneux. Holmgren 1911a: 456.

Coptotermes hyaloapex Holmgren 1911a: 457 (synonymized by Gay 1963: 421-423).

Material examined.

Syntypes:PAPUA NEW GUINEA:Morobe: Simbang, 12.ix.1898 (L. Biró), alates only (IRSNB). Other material.PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Madang: Laing Island, 28.xi.1978 (JMP), with queen and alate (#PNGT22); Laing Island, 11.vi.1987 (YR), with alates (#PNGT1101); Laing Island, 24.viii.1988 (YR), nest within fallen Erythrina tree (#PNGT1260); Manam Island, 23.vi.1981 (JMP), feeding on live tree (#PNGT101); Bogia–Josephstaal road, 10 km S Guam bridge, 26.vi.1984 (YR) (#PNGT711); Hansa Point, 22.viii.1984 (YR) (#PNGT785): Awar, 16.ix.1984 (YR) (#PNGT831); Tabele (Manam Island), 19.ix.1984 (YR), in decaying palm (#PNGT839); Sepen No.1, 01.iii.1988 (YR) (#PNGT1164); Baitabag, v.1999 and 17.x.1999 (L. Čižek) (#7, #15, J. Šobotník’s collection). Morobe: Sirasira, 14.v.1988 (YR) (#PNGT1213); Bulolo, 22.v.1987 (YR), in dead hoop pine ( Araucaria cunninghammi ) trunk on the ground (#PNGT1080); Central: Brown River forest, 15.xi.1962 (AE), from dead branch on forest floor (AMNH); Brown River, 21.xi.1962 (AE), from standing dead stump in forest (AMNH); 24 km NE Port Moresby, 23.xi.1962 (AE), covered galleries over large surface of live tree, with hole to heart wood (AMNH); Subitana plantation, 24.xi.1962 (AE), from standing dead rubber tree in mature grove (AMNH); Sogeri, 15.vii.1984 (YR), in dead liana along tree trunk in small patch of forest (#PNGT740); Sogeri, 23.iii.1985 (JMP & YR) (#PNGT1005); Oro: Kokoda, 13.iii.1985 (JMP & YR) (#PNGT952); Kokoda, 17.iii.1985 (JMP & YR) (#PNGT981); Koiasi, 14.iii.1985 (JMP & YR) (#PNGT959); New Ireland: Konos, 29.v.1984 (JMP & YR) (#PNGT624); Sandaun: Yapsiei, 10.iii.1994 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1733 & 1734); Fly: Morehead, 25.iii.1989 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1447); Wipim, 01.iv.1989 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1509); Tabubil, 20.v.1990 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1541); Lake Murray, 24.v.1990 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1582); Lake Murray, 25.v.1990 (YR & ML), with queen (#PNGT1589); Nomad, 29.v.1990 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1609); Nomad, 31.v.1990 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1624); Nomad, 01.vi.1990 (YR & ML) (#PNGT1637); Southern Highlands: Pimaga, alt. 950m, 18.x.1988 (YR) (#PNGT1316); INDONESIA:Papua: Road Nabire-Mapia km 43, 26.xi.1995 (YR) (#IRJT171); Road Nabire-Mapia km 62, 18.xi.1995 (YR) (#IRJT72, 73); Coa, 22.xi.1995 (YR) (#IRJT123); Kaimana, 23.xi.1995 (YR) (#IRJT140).

Imago.

(Fig. 5).Head rounded and densely hairy. Large eyes. Pronotum wide and elongated, covered by numerous setae of medium and large size. Antennae with 20 to 22 articles. Measurements (mm) of 8 imagoes from the type colony and 4 imagoes from one other colony (between parentheses): TBL: 8.27-8.99 (7.81-8.12); HLC: 1.53-1.87 (1.48-1.62); HWE: 1.84-1.96 (1.79-1.81); PL: 1.04-1.12 (1.02-1.07); PW: 1.63-1.70 (1.59-1.61); FWL: n.a. (13-13.2); ED: 0.45-0.50 (0.45-0.5).

Soldier.

(Figs 6-9).Soldiers of large size. Head rounded, covered by about 40 setae. Fontanelle large, with opening well visible from above. Antennae generally with 16 articles. Pronotum elongated, covered by about 70 setae mainly located on the edges. Mesonotum, metanotum and abdomen bearing plenty of setae. Mandibles with tips extremely curved. Measurements (mm) of 99 soldiers from 33 colonies: HLF: 1.11-1.47; HLL: 1.70-2.20; HW: 1.21-1.54; PL: 0.38-0.64; PW: 0.77-1.03; RML: 0.97-1.20; MPW: 0.30-0.49; T3L: 1.05-1.34.

Comparisons.

Coptotermes elisae can be distinguished from other New Guinean species by its large rounded head with fontanelle opening well visible from above, its strongly curved mandibles and elongated pronotum in the soldier caste.

Distribution.

(Fig. 30).This species is widespread in New Guinean forests. It also occurs in New Ireland. It has also been reported from the following localities, but the relevant material was not examined: Bukaua (as Coptotermes hyaloapex : Holmgren 1911a), Popondetta ( Gay 1963). According to Gathorne-Hardy (2004), it is present from Peninsular Malaysia throughout Sundaland.

Termitophiles.

Coptophysa obesa ( Coleoptera : Staphylinidae ) was found in colony #PNGT740 of this species in Sogeri ( Roisin and Pasteels 1990).