Rugitermes aridus Scheffrahn, 2020

Scheffrahn, Rudolf H. & Carrijo, Tiago F., 2020, Three new species of Rugitermes (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae) from Peru and Bolivia, ZooKeys 1000, pp. 31-44 : 31

Rugitermes aridus Scheffrahn sp. nov. Figures 2 , 3 ; Table 1

Diagnosis.

The R. aridus soldier is much smaller than that of R. laticollis .

The antennal carinae and anterolateral ridges of the R. aridus soldier are smoothly rounded, modestly sclerotized, and appear polished; while these structures in R. rufus and R. volcanensis are more angular, darkly sclerotized, and rugose. In R. aridus , the soldier head capsule width at the antenna is narrower than span of antennal carinae while in in R. rufus and R. volcanensis this span is equal to the width of the head capsule. Also, in R. aridus , the outside corners of the anterolateral ridges are not elevated above the plane of the frons as they are in R. rufus and R. volcanensis .

Type locality.

Peru, Huánuco, 10 km NE Huánuco city (Fig. 9A ).

Material examined.

Holotype soldier: Peru, Huánuco, 10 km NE Huanuco city (-9.877, -76.1641), elev. 2127 m, 1 Jun. 2014, R. Scheffrahn et al. (R. Scheffrahn, T. Carrijo, J. Chase, J. Křeček, E. Kuswanto, J. Mangold, A. Mullins, and T. Nishimura), University of Florida Termite Collection ( UFTC), Davie Florida, no. PU991 . Paratypes. One additional soldier, pseudergates, same colony sample as holotype. Two additional colonies from type locality (same data), one soldier and pseudergates ( PU990 ) and two soldiers and pseudergates ( PU992 ) . Five colonies: Peru, Huánuco, 7 km NE Huanuco city (-9.8816, -76.1913), elev. 1926 m, 1 Jun. 2014, R. Scheffrahn et al., University of Florida Termite Collection nos. PU997 , PU998 , PU999 , PU1000 , and PU1001 , each containing two soldiers and pseudergates.

Description.

Imago (unknown).

Soldier (Fig. 2 ). Head capsule, in dorsal view, light orange-brown from frons to mid-vertex, then grading to light yellow-brown at occiput; anterior of mandibles nearly black, becoming orange-brown mid-length to base. Antennal carinae, anterolateral ridges, and genal horn dark brown. In ventral view, postmentum orange-brown, head capsule light yellow-brown. Head capsule long, rectangular; lateral margins noticeably concave in middle, covered evenly with setae except at occiput. Pronotum much wider than long; with scattered setae, denser along lateral margins; anterior margin weakly concave. Frontal flange forming shallow furrow; angled 30° with plane of vertex. In lateral view (Fig. 2C ), outside corners of the anterolateral ridges are not elevated above the plane of the frons. Antennal carinae and anterolateral ridges glabrous, smoothly rounded. The outer margins of each ridge curve to form angles of ca 120°. Eye spots small, narrowly oblique, barely lighter than head capsule. Third antennal article club-shaped, about twice as long as second and fourth articles. Mandibles about two-thirds length of head capsule; tip curves about 60°; outer margin of mid-blade straight, large shallow hump at base. Measurements of 15 soldiers from eight colonies are shown in Table 1 .

Distribution

(Fig. 1 ). Upper Huallaga river valley in vicinity of Huánuco, Peru.

Etymology.

The species name " aridus " describes the arid habitat where this species lives.

Figures

Figure 1. Localities of the new Rugitermes species described herein.

Figure 2. Head and pronotum of the Rugitermes aridus soldier A dorsal B right (arrow pointing to outer margin of anterolateral ridge) C lateral (arrow pointing to antennal carinae) D ventral.

Figure 3. Field habitus of a soldier and pseudergates of Rugitermes rufus.

Figure 9. Biomes for new Rugitermes A R. aridus B R. rufus and R. volcanensis.