Microcerotermes fletcheri Holmgren & Holmgren, 1917

Sengupta, Rituparna & Rajmohana, K., 2020, Three new records of Microcerotermes Silvestri (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae) from West Bengal, India, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 120 (3), pp. 263-266 : 264-266

2. Microcerotermes fletcheri Holmgren & Holmgren, 1917

1917. Microcerotermes fletcheri Holmgren & Holmgren, Mem. Dept. Agric. India (Ent.), 5 (3): 135–171.

Material examined: 2 Soldiers, 10 Workers (ZSI/4890/ H11), India, West Bengal, Purulia: Bundwan, Duarsini (22.76322°N, 86.45829°E), 10.iii.2019, Extracted from: Tree Stump ; 3 Soldiers, 11 Workers (ZSI/4891/H11), India, West Bengal, Purulia: Bundwan, Duarsini (22.76322°N, 86.45829°E), 10.iii.2019, Extracted from: Epigeal carton nest .

Diagnosis: Soldier ( Table 1 and Figure 1B ): Head capsule pale to deep brown. Head moderately hairy; sides substraight. Fontanelle very small and at anterior 1/3rd of head. Antennae 13 segmented; segment 3 smallest. Labrum subpentagonal in shape; medial round projection. Mandibles coarsely serrated; one large serration behind middle point. Postmentum club-shaped. Pronotum saddle shaped, with a deep notch in anterior margin, posterior margin emarginated at middle.

Worker ( Table 2): Head capsule subsquarish, pale yellow in colour, Body pale yellow. Fontanelle not distinct. Antennae 13 segmented. Postclypeus hairy, anterior margin straight, posterior margin rounded. Pronotum saddle shaped.

Imago: Head capsule dark brown, antennae, labrum and legs yellow, thorax and abdomen light brownish. Head and body densely hairy. Epicranial suture indistinctly present. Fontanelle small, circular. Ocelli oval. Antennae with 14 segments. Segment 3 shortest. Postclypeus little swollen. Pronotum shape almost trapezoidal ( Chhotani, 1997).

Remarks: This species is of relevance to agriculture, and is reported as a minor pest of coconut, Eucalyptus and teak ( Shanbhag & Sundararaj, 2013).

3. Microcerotermes pakistanicus Akhtar, 1974

1974. Microcerotermes pakistanicus Akhtar, Biologia (Lahore),

20 (1): 23–61.

Material examined: 4 Soldiers, 10 Workers (ZSI/4750/ H11), India: West Bengal: Sagar Island, Phulbani (21.862°N, 88.129°E), 22.iii.2018 , Extracted from: Epigeal carton nest; 1 Soldier, 8 Workers (ZSI/4748/H11), India: West Bengal: Sagar Island, Phulbani (21.862°N,

88.129°E), 22.iii.2018, Extracted from: Epigeal carton nest; 1 Soldier, 4 Workers (ZSI/4740/H11), India: West Bengal: Sagar Island, Phulbani (21.862°N, 88.129°E) ,

22.iii.2018, Extracted from: Epigeal carton nest; 4 Soldiers, 15 Workers (ZSI/4739/H11), India: West Bengal: Sagar Island , Phulbani (21.862°N, 88.129°E) , 22.iii.2018, Extracted from: Mud plaster on trunk of live babul tree; 3 Soldiers, 6 Workers (ZSI/4746/H11), India: West Bengal: Sagar Island , Phulbani (21.862°N, 88.129°E) , 22.iii.2018, Extracted from: Mud plaster on trunk of live babul tree; 3 Soldiers, 7 Workers (ZSI/4892/H11), India: West Bengal: Purulia , Bundwan , Kaira (22.831°N, 86.577°E) ,

11.iii.2019, Extracted from: Epigeal carton nest; 3 Soldiers, 11 Workers (ZSI/4893/H11), India: West Bengal: Purba Medinipore , Digha (21.623°N, 87.504°E) , 18.iv.2019, Extracted from: Fallen wooden logs on ground; 1 Soldier, 4 Workers (ZSI/4987/H11), India: West Bengal: North 24 Parganas , Bira (22.783°N, 88.573°E) , 19.xi.2019, Extracted from: basal part of live bamboo tree .

Diagnosis: Soldier ( Table 1 and Figure 1C ): Head capsule pale to dark brown; elongated; rectangular, moderately hairy. Fontanelle indistinct. Antennae yellow with brown tinge; 13 segmented, segment 2 equal to 3+4; 3 shortest. Labrum distinctly pentagonal;blunt tip.Mandibles coarsely serrated, reddish brown; short; well developed; strongly incurved. Postmentum club-shaped; waist long. Pronotum saddle shaped; anterior margin weakly notched, posterior margin emarginate slightly; sometimes substraight.

Worker ( Table 2): Head capsule and pronotum pale yellow. Head subsquarish. Head and body moderately hairy. Fontanelle small, circular, translucent. Postclypeus swollen. Pronotum saddle shaped.

Imago: Head, pronotum postclypeus and abdominal tergites dark brown. Antennae and legs pale brown. Head and body densely hairy. Head subsquarish. Epicranial suture absent. Eyes subcircular. Ocelli oval. Antennae 14 segmented, 3 shortest. Pronotum subtrapezoidal. ( Chhotani, 1997).

Distribution: India: Kerala ( Krishna et al., 2013) and West Bengal (present study).

Remarks: The species is recorded as a minor pest in India, causing damage to buildings and timbers (Shanbhag &

Figures

Figure 1. A. Microcerotermes annandalei Silvestri (Soldier); B. Microcerotermes fletcheri Holmgren & Holmgren (Soldier); and C. Microcerotermes pakistanicus Akhtar (Soldier).