Morphology of the alate and worker mandibles of the soil-feeding nasute termites (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) from the neotropical region

Morphology of the alate and worker mandibles of the soil-feeding nasute termites (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) from the neotropical region

Luiz Roberto Fontes

Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociência, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 20.520, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

ABSTRACT

The morphology of the mandibles of the alates and workers of the 8 soil-feeding genera with nasute soldiers from the Neotropical Region is studied. Three mandibular patterns are recognized : (1) Convexitermes, Atlantitermes, Araujotermes, Coatitermes, Subulitermes and Agnathotermes have mandibles with complete marginal dentition and no reduced teeth, (2) Angularitermes has mandibles with complete marginal dentition but two teeth are vestigial, and in (3) Cyronotermes the marginal dentition is incomplete. A set of other characteristics is associated with each of these mandibular patterns. Intraspecific variation are registered, either between the alate and the worker castes of all genera, as between the worker types of the dimorphic worker caste of the genera with complete and developed marginal dentition. Such dimorphism was previously unreported for the soil-feeding Nasutitermitinae; the soldier arises from one worker type.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the Trustees of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo for permission to examine material in the termite collection and facilities alowed during my work in the Museu, and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo and the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico for the financial assistence for the development of this study ( Proc. FAPESP number 78/1149r, 80/0064 and 82/0346-4, and CNPq number 40.2963/79 ).

Dr. William A. Sands generously contributed with extensive and delightful discussions in the fields of mandibular morphology and anatomy of worker digestive tube, during my visit to the British Museum (Natural History ) and Centre for Overseas Pest Research, in January and February of 1980, and with valuable information in letters. He also criticized a first manuscript of this paper. I hope to have made adequate references to his personal observations, whenever necessary in the text. Dr. Charles Noirot, in the opportunity of this visit to São Paulo, in July of 1983, contributed with a valuable discussion on the question of the worker dimorphism in the soil-feeding nasutes. Much criticism and encouragement has arose from my colleagues of the Universidade de São Paulo, especially Dr. Nelson Papavero, Ubirajara R. Martins, Maria E. Jorge, Sérgio A. Vanin, Paulo S. Terra, Walter A. Neves and Solange M. F. Ribeiro. Scanning micrographies were prepared in the Faculdade de Saúde Pública by Dr. José M. S. Barata and Mr. Carlos A. Paula Leite, to whom I am also very grateful.

• Ahmad, M., 1950. The phylogeny of termite genera based on imago-worker mandibles. Bull. Am. Mus. nat. Hist. 95 : 41-86.
• Ahmad, A., 1968 Termites of Malaysia. I. Nasute genera ralated to Subulitermes ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ) Bull. Dept. Zool. Punjab (N.S.), nº 3, 34 pp.
• Araujo, R. L., 1977. Catálogo dos Isoptera do Novo Mundo. Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Rio de Janeiro, 92 pp.
• Brian, M.V., 1979. Caste differentiation and division of labor, chapter 5, pp. 121-222-, in Hermann, H. R. (ed.), Social Insects, vol. 1, Academic Press, N. York & London, 437 pp.
• Deligne, J., 1966. Caractères adaptatifs au régime alimentaire dans la mandibule des termites ( Insectes Isoptères ). Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 263 : 1323-1325.
• ⁶
  Emerson, A.E., 1933. A revision of the genera of fossil and recent Termopsinae ( Isoptera ). Univ. Calif. Publ. Entom. 6 (6): 165-196.
• Emerson, A.E., 1960a. New genera of termites related to Subulitermes from the Oriental, Malagasy, and Australian regions ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ). Amer, Mus, Novit., Nº 1986, 28 pp.
• Emerson, A. E., 1960b. New genera on the Subulitermes branch of the Nasutitermitinae from the Ethiopian region ( Isoptera, Termitidae ). Amer. Mus. Novit., nº 1987, 21 pp.
• Fontes, L.R., 1979. Atlantitermes, novo gênero de cupim, com duas novas espécies do Brasil ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ). Rev. bras. Ent. 23 ( 4 ) : 219-227.
• Fontes, L.R., 1981. Caetetermes taquarusu, a new genus and species of Ecuadorian nasute ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ). Rev. bras. Ent. 25 ( 2 ) : 135-140.
• Fontes, L. R. 1982. Novos táxons e novas combinações nos cupins nasutos geófagos da região Neotropical ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ). Rev. bas. Ent. 26 ( 1 ) : 99-108.
• Fontes, L.R., 1983. Acréscimos e correções ao "Catálogo dos Isoptera do Novo Mundo". Rev. bras. Ent. 27 ( 2 ) : 137-145.
• Fontes, L. R. & Terra, P.S., 1981. A study on the taxonomy and biology of the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes aquilinus ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ). Rev. bras. Ent. 25 (3) : 171-183.
• Hare, L., 1937. Termite phylogeny as evidenced by soldier mandible development. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 37 (3) : 459-486.
• Holmgren, N., 1911. Termitenstudien II. Systematik der Termiten. Die Familien Mastotermitidae, Protermitidae und Mesotermitidae. K. Svenska Vetensk. - Akad. Mandl. 46:1-88.
• Holmgren, 1912. Termitenstudien III. Systematik der Termiten. Die Familie Metatermitidae. K. Svenska Vetensk. - Akad. Handl. 48 1-166.
• Krishna, K., 1961. A generic revision and phylogenetic study of the family Kalotermitidae ( Isoptera ). Bull. Amer. Mus. nat. Hist. 112(4): 303-408.
• Krishna, K., 1968. Phylogeny and generic classification of the Capritermes complex ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae ). Bull. Amer. Mus. nat. Hist. 138 ( 5 ) : 261-324.
• Krishna, K., 1970. Taxonomy, phylogeny and distribution of termites, chapter 4, pp. 127-152, in Krishna, K. & Weesner, F.M. (eds.), Biology of termites, vol. 2, Academic Press, N. York & London, 643 pp.
• Mathews, A.G.A., 1977. Studies on termites from the Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Rio de Janeiro, 267 pp.
• Noirot, C, 1955. Recherches sur le polymorphisme des termites supérieurs (Termitidae). Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool. Biol. Animale 17 : 399-595.
• Noirot, C, 1969. Formation of castes in the higher termites, chapter 10, pp. 311-350, in Krishna, K. & Weesner, F. M. (eds.), Biology of termites, vol. 1, Academic Press, N. York & London, 598 pp.
• Noirot, C, 1974. Polymorphismus bei höheren Termiten, pp. 740-765, in Schmidt, G. H. (ed.), Sozialpolymorphismus bei Insekten, Wiss. Verlagsges., Stuttgart, 974 pp.
• Noirot, C. & Noirot-Timothée, C, 1969. The digestive system, chapter 3, pp. 49-88, in Krishna, K. & Weesner, F. M. (eds.), Biology of termites, vol. 1, Academic Press, N. York & London, 598 pp.
• Sands, W.A., 1965. A revision of the termite subfamily Nasutitermitinae ( Isoptera, Termitidae ) from the Ethiopian region. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist., Entom., Suppl. 4, 172 pp.
• Sands, W.A., 1972. The soldierless termites of Africa ( Isoptera, Termitidae ). Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist., Entom., Suppl. 18 244 pp.
• Sands, W.A & Lamb, R. W., 1975. The systematic position of Kaudernitermes gen. n. ( Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ) and its relevance to host relationships of termitophilous staphylinid beetles. J. Ent. (B) 44 (2) : 189-200.
• Sen-Sarma, P.K., 1969. Phylogenetic relationship of the termite genera of the subfamily Nasutitermitinae ( Isoptera, Termitidae ) Oriental Insects, Delhi, 2 (1) : 1-34.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Aug 2009
• Date of issue
  1986