Termitogeton planus (Haviland, 1898) Figs 8893

Termes planus Haviland 1898: 397.

Termes ( Termitogeton) planus Haviland. Desneux 1904a: 373-374.

Termitogeton planus (Haviland). Holmgren 1911b: 75.

Material examined.

Syntypes: MALAYSIA:Sarawak: Santubong, 16.ix.1894 (G.D. Haviland) (type No. 164, CUMZ, collection data from Harris 1966). Other material:INDONESIA: Papua:Pusppenssat-IrJa (YR): 13.xi.1995 (#IRJT23, in large log on the ground, with alates); 14.xi.1995 (#IRJT26, in large rotten red wood log, with nymphs; #IRJT29); 16.xi.1995 (#IRJT60, small colony with queen); 25.xi.1995 (#IRJT155, 156, 157); 30.xi.1995 (#IRJT202, large colony with alates, nymphs, one neotenic reproductive, in standing dead tree, hard red wood): 01.xii.1995 (#IRJT214, with queen and neotenic reproductives; #IRJT215, 216); Road Nabire-Mapia km 43, 26.xi.1995 (YR) (#IRJT173, 174, in hard red wood). Several of the Indonesian samples mentioned above, then identified as Termitogeton nr. planus, were previously used in a study of caste patterns (Parmentier & Roisin 2003).

Imago.

(Fig. 90). Very small. Overall body covered by many small setae. Head narrower anteriorly than posteriorly, heart-shaped. Large eyes. Ocelli in front of eyes. Antennae generally with 9 to 15 articles. Pronotum approximately half as broad as head, with a small projection forward. Measurements (mm) of 4 imagoes from the type colony and 10 imagoes from 2 colonies (parentheses): TBL: 3.23-3.94 (3.19-3.94); HLC: 0.59-0.63 (0.59-0.70); HWE: 0.82-0.85 (0.85-0.93); PL: 0.27-0.28 (0.28-0.30); PW: 0.39-0.45 (0.43-0.51); FWL: n.a. (4.93-5.23); ED: 0.14-0.18 (0.18-0.23).

Soldier.

(Figs 88-89, 91-92). Overall body covered by many small setae. Head heart-shaped. Labrum elongated, pointed at the tip, narrow at the basis, broadest apical one-third. Antennae with 11 to 15 articles. Pronotum half as broad as head, elongated anteriorly in the middle. Mandibles short, without marginal teeth, slightly curved at tip. Measurements (mm) 4 soldiers from the type colony and 32 soldiers from 8 colonies (parentheses): HLC: 1.16-1.27 (1.10-1.37); HW: 1.21-1.31 (1.12-1.48); PW: 0.51-0.55 (0.45-0.58); LML: 0.71-0.73 (0.75-0.86); PML: 0.87-0.94 (0.77-0.97); mPW: 0.10-0.13 (0.11-0.15); T3L: 0.58-0.62 (0.51-0.65).

Distribution.

(Fig. 93).In New Guinea, this species was only collected in the bird’s neck area (western Indonesian Papua). Originally described from from Sarawak (Haviland 1898), it is also known from Sabah (Thapa 1982) and Peninsular Malaysia (Tho 1992).

Key to New Guinean Rhinotermitidae species, based on the soldier caste