Rhynchotermes amazonensis, Constantini, Joice P. & Cancello, Eliana M., 2016

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 : 505-506

Rhynchotermes amazonensis , sp. nov.

Holotype. minor soldier. 06.i.2012, R.G. Santos & J.P. Constantini col., part of sample MZUSP 16106.

Type-repository: MZUSP.

Type -locality. BRAZIL. Rondônia: Porto Velho, Mutum-Paraná, lat 9.4513S, long 64.8439W.

Paratypes. BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus, Reserva Ducke, 01.i.1991, F. B. Apolinário leg., UnB 3692 (11 major plus 4 minor soldiers and 14 workers); São Gabriel da Cachoeira, 15.x.2007, D. R. M. Mendonça leg., UnB 7594 (28 major soldiers, 32 workers); Rondônia: Porto Velho, Abunã, lat 9.6341S, long 65.4513W, 12.i.2011, M. M. Rocha & L. Prado col., MZUSP 14781 (14 major soldiers, 5 workers); lat 9.5980S, long 65.3666W, 29.iii–05.iv.2012, R. R. Silva & E. Z. Albuquerque col., MZUSP 16109 (5 minor soldiers); Mutum-Paraná, lat 9.5967S, long 65.3463W, 26.ii–13.iii.2010, T. F. Carrijo & R. G. Santos, col., MZUSP 12800 (4 major soldiers, 13 minor soldiers, 17 workers), MZUSP 12801 (33 major soldiers, 3 workers), 13203 (11 major soldiers, 3 workers), 13204 (9 major soldiers, 20 workers), 13206; 10.ix.2010, M. M. Rocha & V. Mercado col., MZUSP 14777 (3 major soldiers); lat 9.4352S, long 64.8027W, 07.i.2011, M. M. Rocha & L. Prado col., MZUSP 14782 (1 major and 1 minor soldier, 2 workers), MZUSP 14784 (20 major soldiers, 4 workers); lat 9.4423S, long 64.8592W, 28.iii.2011, V. Mercado & R. Probst col., MZUSP 14779 (3 major soldiers, 2 workers); lat 9.4353S, long 64.7918W, 30.iii.2011, MZUSP 14778 (13 major soldiers); lat 9.4456S, long 64.8037W, 18.vi.2011, S. Rosa & G.

Mazão col., MZUSP 14785 (1 major soldier, 1 worker); lat 9.4513S, long 64.8439W, 06.i.2012, R. G. Santos & J. P. Constantini col., MZUSP 16105 (11 major soldiers, 36 workers), 16107 (1 major soldier); sample complementary to holotype (14 major soldier, 3 workers); lat 9.4513S, long 64.8439W, 09.ix.2012, MZUSP 16108 (24 major soldiers, 11 workers); 27.vi.2010, T. F. Carrijo & S. Rosa col., MZUSP 14780 (15 major soldiers, 5 workers), 14783 (5 major soldiers, 3 workers); Jaci-Paraná, lat 9.4491S, long 64.3577W, 12.i.2011, R. Santos & C. Mandai col., MZUSP 14776 (6 major soldiers, 7 workers).

Imago. Unknown.

Soldier ( Fig. 3 A, B, 4A, B, 5A, B). Dimorphic. Major soldier: head capsule pear-shaped in dorsal view, with a slightly constriction behind antennae ( Fig.3 A, 4A). Antenna with long articles ( Fig. 4 A). Labrum subpentagonal with distal margin hyaline. Frontal tube about one-third longer than head, conical. In profile, dorsal margin of head plus margin of frontal tube concave ( Fig. 4 A). Mandible strongly curved ( Fig. 5 A) with inner margin serrated, apical region of each mandible aligns to the proximal region of the opposite mandible when closed. Marginal tooth subrectangular. Pronotum with anterior lobe as long as it is wide. Postmentum subrectangular. Forecoxa process subcylindrical. Head capsule with six long bristles; two dorsally and four laterally. Six long bristles on labrum. Pronotum with three long bristles on anterior lobe margin. Head capsule orange to reddish, body yellow. Minor Soldier: head capsule rounded ( Fig.3 B, 4B). Mandibles evenly curved ( Fig. 5 B) with thin tip. Pronotum with anterior lobe longer than wide. Head capsule with four long bristles dorsally. Pronotum without bristles. Measurements given in Table 3 .

Worker. Fontanelle conspicuous, rounded, whitish. Postclypeus with dark and incomplete medium line. Measurements given in Table 2 .

Etymology. It is a geographic name formed as an adjective and derived from Amazon.

Biological notes. Rhynchotermes amazonensis , sp. nov. was found in Porto Velho, Rondônia in the following places: around the roots of Musaceae and Arecaceae , abandoned nests, clumps of roots in the soil, close to a stream (Igarapé) about 30 centimeters below ground level with no sign of structured nest (the soil in the area was very humid and the soldiers and workers were diffusely distributed), in sticks on the ground and in litter.

Comparisons. The minor soldier of R. amazonensis , sp. nov. resembles that of R. diphyes but the mandibles of the former are thinner. The frontal tube of R. amazonensis sp. nov. is straight whilst that of the minor soldier of R. diphyes is slightly downward curved. The soldier of R. amazonensis sp. nov. has four bristles on the head capsule but the minor soldier of R. diphyes has six to ten bristles. The major soldier of R. amazonensis sp. nov. most closely resembles R. nasutissimus but the new species has a domed head capsule and antennae with longer articles.

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.