Abstract
Heads of soldier termites belonging to the species Embiratermes festivellus (Silvestri, 1901) (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and Spinitermes brevicornutus (Desneux, 1904) (Termitidae, Termitinae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Individual glandular openings are present in the upper part of E. festivellus head and correspond to class 3 glandular cells. Campaniform sensillae occur in both termite heads, but this sensorial structure was not observed in the nasus extremity of E. festivellus soldier.
Isoptera; Embiratermes; Spinitermes; termite; campaniform sensillum
Soldier head morphology of the Neotropical termites: Embiratermes festivellus Silvestri and Spinitermes brevicornutus (Desneux) (Isoptera, Termitidae)
Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo; Raquel Cristina Barsotti
Departamento de Biologia e Centro de Insetos Sociais, Universidade Estadual Paulista. Caixa Postal 199, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brasil
ABSTRACT
Heads of soldier termites belonging to the species Embiratermes festivellus (Silvestri, 1901) (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and Spinitermes brevicornutus (Desneux, 1904) (Termitidae, Termitinae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Individual glandular openings are present in the upper part of E. festivellus head and correspond to class 3 glandular cells. Campaniform sensillae occur in both termite heads, but this sensorial structure was not observed in the nasus extremity of E. festivellus soldier.
Key words: Isoptera, Embiratermes, Spinitermes, termite, campaniform sensillum
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We thank Dr. Barbara L. Thorne for critical reading of the manuscript and Dr. L.R. Fontes by taxonomic identification. Financial support was provided by CNPq.
Recebido em 31.VIII.1995; aceito em 19.VIII.1996.
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
14 July 2009 -
Date of issue
1996
History
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Accepted
19 Aug 1996 -
Received
31 Aug 1995