A new termite species of the genus Dihoplotermes Araújo (Blattaria, Isoptera, Termitidae) from the Brazilian Amazonian rainforest

Uma nova espécie de térmita do gênero Dihoplotermes Araujo (Blattaria, Isoptera, Termitidae) da floresta Amazônica Brasileira

ABSTRACT

Dihoplotermes, a previously monotypic genus, is now composed of two species. Dihoplotermes taurus sp. nov., a new Termitinae termite species, is illustrated and described based on morphological characters from soldiers, workers, and imago. The new species is distinguished from Dihoplotermes inusitatus Araujo by having a spine-like protuberance with blunt apex on the postmentum, the presence of a spine on the gizzard and the absence of dimorphic soldiers. Furthermore, the internal morphological characteristics of a Dihoplotermes worker are described for the first time. Both internal and external morphological characters were used to improve the characterization of the species.

Keywords:
gizzard; soil fauna; taxonomy; termite; Termitinae