Zootermopsis angusticollis (Hagen, 1858)

Herhold, Hollister W, Davis, Steven R, Degrey, Samuel P & Grimaldi, David A, 2023, COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE INSECT TRACHEAL SYSTEM PART 1: INTRODUCTION, APTERYGOTES, PALEOPTERA, POLYNEOPTERA, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 459 (1), pp. 1-184 : 1-184

Zootermopsis angusticollis Soldier caste

“Dampwood termite”

Figures 118 (lateral), 119 (dorsal), 120 (ventral)

Plates 73 (lateral), 74 (dorsal), 75 (ventral)

DESCRIPTION: HEAD: Major tracheae indicated in plates, due to networked nature of head tracheae, readers are referred to 3D models in supplemental digital data (see “Availability of Digital Data,” above). H-Oc notably absent, as is expected in termite soldiers. H-DCT with Y-shaped branch meeting in midline as H-DCMedB, which loops posteriad to rejoin H-DCT near origin of Y-shaped branch. Two branches at anterior end of H-DCMedB-Loop: H-Ant anteriad and H-DVB directly ventrad, linking with H-VCT on each side. Close to origin of Y-split, H-DV-Loop extends laterally and anteriad in wide arc, following head capsule lateral wall, looping medially and posteriad near base of antenna, connecting with anterior end of H-VCT as H-DV-Loop; additional H-Ant extends from anterior end of H-DV-Loop. H-VCT runs directly anteriad along floor of head capsule, with large H-DVB connecting to H-DCT and H-DCMedB-Loop. Remainder of H-VCT anteriad toward mouthparts, linking with H-DV-Loop, and branches extending to H-Md, H-MxPlp, and H-Lbm along this loop. H-VLT present, extending into labium. H-VLT asymmetric in soldier caste, see figure 121 for ventral view of worker caste showing symmetric H-VLT branches.

THORAX: T2-S with four branches: H-DCT, H-VCT, T2-DB, and T2-VB. H-DCT mediad, curving anteriad toward large head capsule; short T1-DLT from T2-DB connecting before curve. H-VCT like H-DCT, with ventrad T1-AL near curve toward anterior. T2-DB short, with T2-AWL branch running posteriad close to T2-S; T2-DB continues mediad with Y-shaped bifurcation of short T1-DLT anteriad toward H-DCT and T2-DLT posteriad toward T3-S. T2-AWL arcing posteriad, splitting in to T2-AL and T2-Wbr at apex of arc; T2-Wbr with small T2-W-c-r and T2-W-cu-a, connecting with T2-PWL posteriorly; T2-AL posteriad and ventral, joining T2-PL and extending into midleg. T2-VB runs directly mediad, bifurcating into T2-VC1 mediad and T2-VLT arcing ventrally and posteriad along sternite. T2-VC1, the first of two mesothoracic ventral commissures, proceeding mediad with T1-PL branch directly ventrad and smaller connection anteriad to T1-VX. T1-VX with H-VCT extending anteriad into head; single branch on specimen left side but likely present on right—see T2-VC2 branching mediad from T2-VLT anteriad from T2-VLT’s curve dorsad toward T3-S; T2-VLT with additional T2-Cx branch, larger on right side than on left. T3-S with four branches: T2-PWL, T3-DB, T3-AWL, and T3-VB. T2-PWL from anterior, connecting T2-PL and T2-Wbr from T2-S. T3-DB mediad, joining with T2-DLT and T3-DLT in flat Y-shaped junction. T3-AWL mediad briefly, arcing posteriad and dorsally, splitting into T3-AL ventrad into hindleg and T3-Wbr posteriad, joining with A1-S via T3-PWL. T3-Wbr with small T3-W-c-r anterior and T3-W-cu-a posterior. T3-VB runs directly ventrad, with T3-VLT splitting posteriorly just ventrad of T3-S. T3-VB continuing ventrad, with T2-VL branch ventrad and posteriad, extending into midleg; remaining T3-VB arcing medially to form T3-VC1; T2-VLT joining with T3-VB near this arc. T3-VLT ventrad, arcing posterior along sternite before continuing anteriad toward A1-S, with T3-VC2 mediad near apex of this arc. T2-VLT and T3-VLT both with two ventral commissures: posterior T2-VC2 and anterior T3-VC1 along same section of T2-VLT; posterior T3-VC2 and A1-VC both along same section of T3-VLT.

ABDOMEN: A1..8-S present. Short A n -SB possible on several segments. A1-S with three branches: T3-PWL, A1-DB, and A1-VB; remaining A2..8-S with just A n -DB and A n -VB branches. For A1-S, T3-PWL from anterior, completing T3-Wbr link from T3-S. A n -DB runs mediad and slightly dorsad, meeting A n -DLT branches from anterior and posterior in Y-shaped junction. Large A n -DB-Vi typical for all segments, often asymmetric and extending into various abdominal regions and occasionally spanning several segments. A n -DC absent. A n -VB runs ventrad, following body wall, continuing to form A n -VC; A8-VB split into A8-VC1 anterior and A8-VC2 posterior. A n -VB with A n -MLT branching ventrad from A n -S, directly posteriad toward proceeding posterior segment, linking with A n -VB. A5..8-MLT slightly modified, connecting nearly directly with subsequent A n -S. As with A n -DB, A n -VB-Vi extend throughout abdomen; A7-VB-Vi and A8-VB-Vi extend mediad, crossing middle of body and extending anteriad past A4-S.

Figures

FIGURE 118. Zootermopsis angusticollis (Blattodea: Archotermopside) lateral.

FIGURE 119. Zootermopsis angusticollis (Blattodea: Archotermopside) dorsal.

FIGURE 120. Zootermopsis angusticollis (Blattodea: Archotermopside) ventral.

FIGURE 121. Zootermopsis worker caste, prothorax ventral view. Note presence of bilaterally symmetric H-VLT. Direct screen capture from 3D Slicer, annotated in Illustrator.