Ephelotermes cheeli (Mjöberg), Mjoberg

Bourguignon, Thomas, Leponce, Maurice & Roisin, Yves, 2008, Revision of the Termitinae with snapping soldiers (Isoptera: Termitidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 1769, pp. 1-34 : 8-11

Ephelotermes cheeli (Mjöberg)

( Figs 13–16 , 49–50 , 61 , 66 )

Mirotermes Cheeli Mjöberg, 1920: 95 .

Ephelotermes cheeli (Mjöberg) .— Miller, 1991: 1180.

Material examined. AUSTRALIA. ANIC. Queensland. #10–18434, Weipa, 2.xi.1978, collected and identified by L.R. Miller. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Authors' collection. Fly. # PNGT 1414: Morehead, 22.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1416: Morehead, 23.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1435, 1436: Morehead, 24.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1487, 1492: Wipim, 30.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1496: Wipim, 31.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1555, 1556: Lake Murray, 22.v.1990, YR & ML. # PNGT 1565: Lake Murray, 23.v.1990, YR & ML. # PNGT 1586: Lake Murray, 25.v.1990, YR & ML. # PNGT 1655: Nomad, 2.vi.1990, YR & ML.

Diagnosis. This species can be easily distinguished from other ones of the genus by its large size ( Tables 5–6 , 18 ) and the short labrum of soldiers. For detailed descriptions see Mjöberg (1920), Hill (1942) and Miller (1991).

Distribution ( Fig. 66 ). This species was collected 13 times in southern Papua New Guinea (Morehead, Wipim, Lake Murray and Nomad River) in both forests and savannas. It is also known from northern Queensland and Torres Strait islands ( Miller 1991, Watson & Abbey 1993: 101).

Head length to apex of frontal tubercle 1.28–1.79 Head length to anterolateral corner of the genae 1.20–1.55 Head depth with postmentum 0.60–0.80 Head depth without postmentum 0.69–0.89 Head maximum width 0.81–0.97 Pronotum width 0.46–0.68 Left mandible length 1.75–2.13 Postmentum minimum width 0.12–0.19

Figures

FIGURE 61. Worker digestive tract of Ephelotermes cheeli. From left to right: dorsal view, right view, ventral view and left view. Mesenteron stippled. Arrows indicate the direction of transit.

FIGURE 66. Known distribution in New Guinea of:, Ephelotermes paleatus;, Ephelotermes cheeli.

FIGURES 13 – 16. Ephelotermes cheeli: 13, soldier head, dorsal; 14, soldier head, lateral; 15, enteric valve; 16, worker mandibles. Scale bars: 13, 14, 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 56. Alate. Protocapritermes odontomachus: 45, head; 46, pronotum. Ephelotermes paleatus: 47, head; 48, pronotum. Ephelotermes cheeli: 49, head; 50, pronotum. Lophotermes brevicephalus: 51, head; 52, pronotum. Macrognathotermes errator: 53, head; 54, pronotum. Pericapritermes parvus sp. nov.: 55, head; 56, pronotum. Scale bars: 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 56, 0.2 mm; 45, 51, 53, 55, 0.5 mm.