Cryptotermes albipes (N. Holmgren & K. Holmgren, 1915)

Roisin, Yves, 2011, Cryptotermes (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae) on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu: Redescription of Cryptotermes albipes (Holmgren & Holmgren) and description of Cryptotermes penaoru sp. n., ZooKeys 138, pp. 31-40 : 31-32

Cryptotermes albipes (N. Holmgren & K. Holmgren, 1915)

Calotermes albipes - Holmgren N & Holmgren K, 1915: 89-90 (imago). Type locality: Maré, Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia).

Cryptotermes albipes (Holmgren, N. & K.) - Snyder 1949: 38.

Remarks.

The type series of this species only contains imagos. Bacchus (1987) redescribed this caste and announced the recent discovery of the soldier and its forthcoming description by J. Buckerfield of CSIRO, but this author, now deceased, shifted to another field and his contribution never appeared in print.

Material examined.

Paralectotypes: NEW CALEDONIA: Loyalty Islands: Maré Island, 17.xi.1911 (coll. Sarasin & Roux), alates only (NHMB). Other material: VANUATU: Taféa: SW Tanna Island, 28.vii.1971 (coll. K.E. Lee, det. J. Buckerfield), alates and soldiers (ANIC#15344); Sanma: Espiritu Santo, 28.x.1982 (coll. R.L. Paton, det. J. Buckerfield), alates and soldiers (ANIC#18883); Espiritu Santo, 10.xi.2006 (coll. det. Y. Roisin), with 1 alate, sexuals, soldiers and immatures, on forested slope above Penaoru village, alt. 300m a.s.l. (14°57.98'S, 166°38.22'E) (ULB #Santo016); ibidem, 12.xi.2006 (coll. det. Y. Roisin), soldiers and immatures (RBINS #15607); ibidem, 16.xi.2006 (coll. det. Y. Roisin), sexuals, soldiers and immatures from dead branch about 15m above ground (RBINS #15616).

Imago.

(Figs 1a, 1c, 1e)Redescribed by Bacchus (1987: 37, figs 6-7). Pigmented parts substantially darker than described by Bacchus, as the pigmentation of Holmgren’s material faded over the years. The most remarkable feature of this species is its overall dark brown pigmentation, but with the sharp contrast between the almost white tibiae and dark brown femora.

Measurements of 6 paralectotype alates and 13 sexuals (5 alates, 8 dealates) from 4 colonies (non-type specimens between parentheses): ED: 0.270-0.310 (0.265-0.325); OD: 0.080-0.120 (0.070-0.130); HLP: 0.825-0.930 (0.835-0.885); HWE: 0.845-0.960 (0.830-0.925); HWI: 0.635-0.700 (0.620-0.665); PW: 0.755-0.885 (0.700-0.835); T3L: 0.690-0.745 (0.675-0.755); FWL: 5.06-6.11 (5.25-5.55).

Its pigmentation pattern (dark to very dark brown with pale, almost white tibiae contrasting with dark brown femora and yellow tarsi) distinguishes this species from all other Cryptotermes in this area.

Soldier.

(previously undescribed) (Figs 2a, 2c, 2e, 3a)Head capsule very dark reddish brown to black. Head in dorsal view slightly convex on sides and on posterior margin; trapezoidal in profile, narrowing posteriorly. Frontal flange not raised, with medial notch. Frons flat, making an angle <90° with plane of mandibles. Genal horns well developed, pointing upwards; frontal horns reduced to low humps. Deep depression on vertex, delimited by broad, blunt crests running backwards from highest points of frontal flange. Sides of head capsule concave. Mandibles rather short and stout, with sharp cutting edge and small teeth. Antennae pale brown, of 10-12 articles. Pronotum widely and angularly notched, with thickened anterior margin.

Measurements of 6 soldiers from 5 colonies: HLP: 0.975-1.230; HLF: 0.955-1.215; HLG: 0.975-1.230; HW: 0.920-1.085; PW: 0.795-1.075; LML: 0.495-0.615; LW: 0.185-0.225; HD: 0.730-0.890; T3L: 0.525-0.625.

Vertical to overhanging frons distinguishes Cryptotermes albipes from all other species from the area except Cryptotermes domesticus . Depression in middle of vertex with conspicuous anteroposterior ridges on both sides is characteristic of Cryptotermes albipes .

Distribution and biology.

Cryptotermes albipes is known from the Loyalty Islands (east of New Caledonia) and Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo and Tanna). It also occurs in New Guinea (unpublished data). Its biology is poorly known. On Santo, this species was found at 300m a.s.l. in dead tree trunks on the ground, as well as in a dead branch on a living tree at a height of 15m. Colony boundaries seem rather diffuse. Several reproductive pairs can be found in the same log, and may possibly reside in the same network of interconnecting tunnels.