Rhynchotermes diphyes Mathews

Constantini, Joice P. & Cancello, Eliana M., 2016, A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical termite genus Rhynchotermes (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae), Zootaxa 4109 (5), pp. 501-522 : 508-510

Rhynchotermes diphyes Mathews

Rhynchotermes diphyes Mathews 1977: 157 –159 ( major soldier, fig 103; minor soldier, 104); Krishna et al. 2013: 1472 (catalog).

Holotype. Major soldier. 06.vi.1967, A. G. Mathews col., MZUSP 7414, examined. Type locality. BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Ribeirão Cascalheira, lat 12.8145S, long 51.7745W. (R.Constantino, personal comm.).

New synonym: Rhynchotermes nyctobius Mathews 1977: 156 –157 (soldier, fig. 101). Holotype: soldier. BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Ribeirão Cascalheira ( MZUSP 7415), examined.

Imago. Unknown.

Soldier ( Fig. 3 D, E, 4D, E, 5D, E, 7C). Dimorphic. Major soldier: head capsule pear-shaped in dorsal view ( Fig. 3 D). Antennal articles short ( Fig. 4 D). Labrum tongue-shaped with hyaline tip. Frontal tube approximately equal in length to head, conical. Dorsal margin of head plus and margin of frontal tube concave in profile. Mandible evenly curved ( Fig. 5 D), robust, with subrectangular marginal tooth, apical region of each mandible aligns to the proximal region of the opposite mandible when closed. Postmentum subquadrangular. Forecoxa process conical ( Fig. 7 C). Head capsule with four to six long bristles. Labrum with two bristles. Pronotum with two long bristles either side of lateral lobe. Forecoxa process with short bristles. Head capsule orange to brown, body yellow. Minor soldier: head capsule rounded ( Fig. 3 E). Length of frontal tube one-third longer than length of head without frontal tube, subcylindrical, slightly down-curved. Mandible thin ( Fig. 5 E). Forecoxa process cylindrical. Head capsule with six to ten long bristles. Measurements given in Table 3 .

Worker ( Fig. 9 C). Fontanelle conspicuous. Postclypeus medium line light, inconspicuous. Two sets of short bristles with darkened tips next to fontanelle. Measurements given in Table 2 .

Biological notes. Rhynchotermes diphyes has also been observed occupying abandoned termite nests ( Cancello 1997) as well as the bulbs of banana plants and cattle dung.

Comparisons. Mathews (1977) stated that the distinguishing features between the minor soldiers of R. diphyes and R. nyctobius were the curvature near the frontal tube tip of R. nyctobius and fewer bristles on head capsule of R. diphyes . However, after examining numerous samples, we were not able to confirm these differences as these characters are highly variable within and between samples such that it is impossible to separate the minor soldiers of the two species. On the other hand, the major soldier of R. diphyes has a large head capsule and a shorter, conical frontal tube whilst in other species (except R. bulbinasus which is bulbous) the frontal tube is equal or greater in length to the head capsule.

Other material examined. BRAZIL. Mato Grosso: Chapada dos Guimarães, 25.xi.1984, C. Campaner col., MZUSP 16132; Cláudia, 25.viii.2011, Q. C. L. Santos col., MZUSP 15934; 20.viii.2011, MZUSP 15933; Ribeirão Cascalheira, lat 12.8145S, long 51.7745W, 04.iv.1968, A. G. Mathews col., MZUSP 7415; lat 12.0000S, long 59.5000W, viii.1980, A. E. Mill col., MZUSP 10844; Utiariti (325m), Rio Papagaio, vii–viii.1961, K. Lenko col., MZUSP 2043; São Paulo: Bauru, Aimorés, vi.1947, D. Braz col., MZUSP 3050, 3052; Descalvado, 27.viii.1944, Jandira & Otto Schubart col., MZUSP 0108; Novo Horizonte, 23.xi.1944, R. L. Araujo & Silva col., MZUSP 2646; Luis Antônio, Reserva Jataí, 17.iv.2001, E. M. Cancello et al. col., MZUSP 11236, 11237; 07.v.2009, G. P. Paciência col., MZUSP 16113; Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, 22.vii.1999, A. M. Costa-Leonardo leg., UnB 1269.

Additional records. BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul, Aquidauana (HF Cunha pers. comm.).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Soldier head capsule dorsal view. A: Rhynchotermes amazonensis sp. nov. (major soldier, MZUSP 12800), B: idem (minor soldier, idem), C: R. bulbinasus (major soldier, MZUSP 16115), D: R. diphyes (major soldier, MZUSP 15934), E: idem (minor soldier, idem), F: R. matraga sp. nov. (MZUSP 16125), G: R. nasutissimus (lectotype DEZA), H: R. perarmatus (MZUSP 16114) and I: R. piauy (MZUSP 16126). Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 4. Soldier head capsule lateral view. A: Rhynchotermes amazonensis sp. nov. (major soldier), B: idem (minor soldier), C: R. bulbinasus (major soldier), D: R. diphyes (major soldier), E: idem (minor soldier), F: R. matraga sp. nov., G: R. nasutissimus, H: R. perarmatus, and I: R. piauy. Scale bar: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 5. Soldier left mandible. A: Rhynchotermes amazonensis sp. nov. (major soldier), B: idem (minor soldier), C: R. bulbinasus (major soldier), D: R. diphyes (major soldier), E: idem (minor soldier), F: R. matraga sp. nov., G: R. nasutissimus, H: R. perarmatus and I: R. piauy. Scale bar: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Forecoxa process: A— Rhynchotermes nasutissimus imago, B: idem soldier, C: R. diphyes major soldier and D: R. amazonensis sp. nov. minor soldier. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 9. Digestive tube: A— Rhynchotermes nasutissimus gizzard, B: idem, pulvillus detail with scales and C: R. diphyes enteric valve (arrows indicate the fingerlike cushions). Scale bars: A, 0.1 mm; B, 0.01 mm and C 0.05 mm.