The termite genus Glyptotermes (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae) from Paraguay Author Scheffrahn, Rudolf H. University of Florida, Fort Lauderdale Research & Education Center, 3205 College Avenue, Davie, Florida 33314 USA rhsc@ufl.edu text ZooKeys 2021 2021-09-01 1059 23 33 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1059.70500 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1059.70500 1313-2970-1059-23 EA7AA73800D84437BA70940A5060DD89 1C29C34AB9E65131AF19934F8050B6CC Glyptotermes hickmani sp. nov. Figs 2 , 3 , 6 Diagnosis. Among the ten South American Glyptotermes species for which the soldier is known, the G. hickmani sp. nov. soldier is closest in head width to G. guianensis (Emerson, 1925), but in lateral view, G. guianensis has angular frontal horns compared to the rounded frontal horns of G. hickmani . The frontal horns of the G. hickmani soldier are diagnostic. Type locality. Paraguay, Nueva Colombia. Material examined. Holotype soldier: Paraguay , Nueva Colombia ( -25.1747 , -57.2876 ), elev. 115 m , 5JUN2012 , R. Scheffrahn et al. ( R. Scheffrahn , J. Chase , R. Hickman , J. Krecek , J. Mangold , A. Mullins ), University of Florida Termite Collection (UFTC), Davie Florida , no. PA1265 . Paratypes . Five additional soldiers, one queen , pseudergates/nymphs, same colony sample as holotype . One additional colony from type locality (same data), four soldiers , one king, one queen , and pseudergates/nymphs (PA1264) . Paraguay , Cerra Cora ( -22.6788 , -55.9950 ), elev. 293 m , 29MAY2012 , R. Scheffrahn et al., UFTC no. PA326 containing two soldiers and pseudergates/nymphs . Paraguay , 58 km W of Pedro Juan Caballero ( -22.5600 , -56.3006 ), elev. 328 m , 29MAY2012 , R. Scheffrahn et al., UFTC no. PA446 containing one soldier and 12 pseudergates/nymphs . Description. Dealated Imago (Fig. 2 , Table 1 ). Head and pronotum castaneus brown (almost black in live habitus, Fig. 6A ). Postclypeus hyaline; labrum light orange-brown. Fore wing scales concolorous with pronotum. Femora slightly lighter than pronotum; tibiae concolorous with labrum. In lateral view, vertex of head with 20-24 scattered setae of medium length. In dorsal view, pronotum with about 20 setae of variable length along each lateral margin; in lateral view, with setae in line with anterior and posterior margins; a few in middle. Eyes small, dark gray, occupying less than one-third the distance between vertex and genal margins; ellipsoid with rectate margin at antennal socket. Ocelli small, orange, elliptical; separated from eye by their narrow width. Antennae article formula 2 <3> 4 = 5. Pronotum wider than long, about as wide as head capsule without eyes; anterior and posterior margins with slight concavity, sides slightly convex. Arolia present. Table 1. Measurements (mm) of Glyptotermes hickmani sp. nov. and G. canellae ( Mueller ) imagos.
Characters G. hickmani G. canellae
(n = 4) - (n = 12) -
mean range mean range
Length of head to tip of labrum 1.38 1.35-1.44 1.36 1.30-1.40
Length of head to side base of mandibles 0.64 0.54-0.79 0.64 0.58-0.79
Width of head 1.15 1.11-1.19 1.18 1.14-1.19
Diameter of eye 0.26 0.25-0.30 0.27 0.25-0.28
Eye from lower margin 0.27 0.23-0.33 0.18 0.16-0.25
Length of ocellus 0.1 0.09-0.11 0.1 0.09-0.11
Median length of pronotum 0.62 0.58-0.65 0.57 0.53-0.60
Maximum length of pronotum 0.71 0.70-0.74 0.7 0.65-0.77
Width of pronotum 1.19 1.09-1.26 1.06 1.00-1.11
Length of hind tibia 0.91 0.86-0.96 0.87 0.79-0.91
Length of fore wing from suture - - 6.57 6.24-6.80
Width of fore wing - 1.83 1.68-1.93
Figure 2. Dorsal (top) and lateral views of the Glyptotermes hickmani sp. nov. female dealate. Soldier (Fig. 3 , Table 2 ). Head, in lateral view, grading from light orange at the cervical margin to dark brown at frontal horns (darker in live habitus, Fig. 6B ). Mandibles concolorous with frons. Head capsule nearly cuboid; about as wide as high; with distinct narrowing near anterior fourth. Pronotum more than twice as wide as long, widest near front third; anterior margin weakly concave, posterior margin barely concave in middle. In dorsal and ventral views, setae on head and pronotum medium to long; about 4-5 short setae on basal hump of mandibles. In lateral view, setae less numerous except for setae on postmentum. Mandibles robust, form about two-thirds of total head length; curve apically near anterior half, humps at basal fourth evenly rounded beyond outer blades. Dentition as in Fig. 3 . Frons bilobed; lobes rounded in lateral view; frontal furrow between lobes extends to postclypeus. Angle formed by vertex and frons about 75°; lateral view of frons punctuated by large, knob-like, frontal horns. Eye spots very faint. In ventral view, posterior margin of postmentum slightly wider than middle. Genal horns rounded from above, project slightly beyond narrowest point of head capsule. Antenna with 11-12 articles; formula 2> 3 <4 <5. Femora swollen. Table 2. Measurements (mm) of Glyptotermes hickmani sp. nov. and G. canellae ( Mueller ) soldiers.
Characters G. hickmani G. canellae
(n = 9) - (n = 2) -
mean range mean range
Length of head to side base of mandibles 1.44 1.09-1.70 1.84 1.81-1.88
Width of head 1.22 1.00-1.32 1.37 1.32-1.42
Height of head 1.11 0.95-1.18 1.19 1.19-1.19
Length of left mandible 1.04 0.88-1.14 1.20 1.18-1.23
Maximum width of postmentum 0.38 0.35-0.40 0.51 0.49-0.53
Minimum width of postmentum 0.29 0.26-0.33 0.37 0.35-0.39
Length of postmentum 1.12 0.89-1.25 1.12 1.12-1.12
Median length of pronotum 0.54 0.40-0.61 0.59 0.58-0.60
Maximum length of pronotum 0.65 0.51-0.74 0.73 0.72-0.74
Width of pronotum 1.19 0.91-1.32 1.26 1.23-1.30
Length of hind tibia 0.72 0.61-0.79 0.88 0.88-0.88
Figure 3. Dorsal (top) ( B ), lateral/oblique, and ventral views of the Glyptotermes hickmani sp. nov. soldier head capsule and pronotum. Arrow = frontal horn. Distribution. See Fig. 1 . Etymology. Named after Robert B. (Bob) Hickman, a friend and able termite collector, who joined us on the Paraguay expedition.