Compositermes vindai, Scheffrahn, Rudolf H., 2013

Scheffrahn, Rudolf H., 2013, Compositermes vindai (Isoptera: Termitidae: Apicotermitinae), a new genus and species of soldierless termite from the Neotropics, Zootaxa 3652 (3), pp. 381-391 : 384-388

Compositermes vindai sp. nov.

Holotype: worker, 25MAY2003, Univ. Florida collection no. TT1136.

Type locality. Trinidad: Mount Saint Benedict (10.66630, -61.40126).

Imago unknown (brachypterous nymph shown in Fig. 6 ).

Worker ( Figs. 3–6 ). Medium to medium-large in size. Head capsule and antennae light yellowish; pronotum and legs hyaline; abdominal integument transparent with no fat body. Antennal articles gradually more pigmented toward distal end. Antennae with 14 articles; 2>3=4<5. Head capsule and pronotum with long scattered setae, pronotum steeply bilobate in lateral view. Postclypeus and fore tibia moderately inflated. Mandibular dentition as in Fig. 6 . Gut structure as in generic description and Fig. 3 . Six enteric valve cushions in hexaradial arrangement; subequal, 60–80 µm long ( Fig. 5A ); egg-shaped and distinctly aculeate at posterior (direction of gut contents movement); surface of cushions with 5–10 reticulate polygons. Lining of enteric valve seating (S) smooth, sac-like. Seating surrounded by circular muscles; thicker toward posterior. Intersection of S and P3 embellished with a circular chain of 15–20 pectinate, dome-shaped paddles, each paddle ca. 15µ long; teeth on paddles acutely triangular; 15–30 teeth per paddle depending somewhat on width of individual teeth and width of paddle.

Measurements in mm, (mean±standard deviation, range; n=1, 1 each from 11 samples): FG811, PA1137, PA1140 l, PA1215, PN1064, PN1065, TT616.2, TT618, TT620, TT1136.1, TT1137): maximum head width 0.90±0.06, 0.84–1.01; maximum pronotum width 0.57±0.04, 0.52–0.64; hind tibia length 0.77±0.05, 0.69–0.84; fore tibia length 0.54±0.06, 0.47–0.67; fore tibia maximum width 0.14±0.01, 0.12–0.15; fore tibia length/width ratio 3.98±0.58, 3.17–5.20. Specimens from Tobago (TT616.2, TT618, TT620) proportionally larger in all measurements corresponding to the maximum in each range.

Diagnosis. The intersection of S and P 3 in the worker gut is embellished with 15–20 pectinate, dome-shaped paddles each with 15–30 acutely triangulate teeth. In this respect, C. vindai does not, even distantly, resemble any other known termite worker.

Comparison. See genus comparison above.

Etymology. Compositermes vindai is named in honor of Boudanath (Vinda) Maharajh (1950–2009) who first joined our termite diversity survey team in 1996 at his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago. Vinda participated in another 23 expeditions until his last in 2008 to Venezuela. Vinda’s enthusiasm, collecting skills, and automobile driving style will not be forgotten.

Material examined (workers only). French Guiana: Forest W Petit Saut Dam (5.06754, -53.0592), 22 NOV2010, col. J. Krëcëk, UF collection no. FG811; Panama: NE Caldera (8.67241, -82.35207), 31MAY 2010, PN1063-PN1065; Paraguay: Depto. Amanbay, Hwy 5 E at Hwy 3 (-22.68366, -56.21476) 29MAY2012, PA388; Depto. Misiones, San Miguel (-26.52573, -57.04178) 4JUN2012, PA1137-PA1139-PA1141; Depto. Paraguari, Ruta Lago Ypoa (-26.05232, -57.26914) 4JUN2012, PA1215; Depto. Cordillera, Nueva Colombia (-25.17472, - 57.28762) 5JUN2012, PA1267; Tobago: Roxborough Rd., NW Roxborough (11.28467-60.60133), 31MAY1996 TT616, TT618, TT620; Trinidad: Forest Trail W. Mount Saint Benedict (10.66630, -61.40126) 25MAY2003, TT1136-TT1137 (holotype and paratype series). All samples collected by those mentioned in the acknowledgments. Other material examined for Fig. 1 : Anoplotermes parvus Ecuador: Francisco de Orellana, Yasuni station area (0.67177, -76.39793), 28MAY2011, EC431, col. R. Scheffrahn. Longustitermes manni Panama: Colon, Sierra Llorona, Los Monos trail (9.34321, -79.77535), 4JUN2005, PN741, col. J. Krëcëk, in soil mound with Coatitermes clevelandi . All material deposited in the University of Florida Termite collection, Davie, Florida.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Top: Anoplotermes parvus (EC 431) enteric valve pads anterior to pectinate crown (inset showing texture of pads). Bottom: Longustitermes manni enteric valve showing both spines and texture of anterior cushions (PN 741).

FIGURE 3. Compositermes vindai (PA 1139) top to bottom: worker in dorsal, right, ventral, and left view. C = crop, M = mesenteron, P 1 = first proctodeal segment, P 2 = enteric valve, S = enteric valve seating, P 3 = third proctodeal segment or paunch, P 4 = forth proctodeal segment, and P 5 = fifth proctodeal segment or rectum. Abdominal integument removed and P 4 - P 5 extended out to expose S (S outline highlighted in left view). Approximate juncture of M and P 1 shown as black line in ventral view.

FIGURE 4. Top: dorsolateral view of Compositermes vindai (PA 1139) worker gut section from the posterior of P 1 to the anterior of P 3. Enteric valve seating filled with bacteria. Locations of enteric valve cushions (P 2) and pectinate paddles at the junction of S and P 3 are highlighted diagrammatically. Bottom: P 2 to S-P 3 (TT 618) section with musculature removed and emptied of food to show in situ arrangement of enteric valve cushions and pectinate paddles.

FIGURE 5. A. Worker enteric valve cushions of Compositermes vindai, overlapping lateral view (TT 618). B. Partial ring of pectinate S-P 3 paddles, muscle removed (PN 1064). This specimen has 18 paddles. C. Whole ring of S-P 3 paddles with muscle, view from P 3 lumen. This specimen has 20 paddles (TT 618). D. S-P 3 paddles showing granular surface, possibly adhering bacteria (PN 1064).

FIGURE 6. Left: dorsal view of Compositermes vindai worker mandibles (PA 247). Right: field habitus of C. vindai workers and nymph in gallery of Cornitermes sp. mound (PA 1139).