Species groups in the genus Cubitermes (Isoptera: Termitidae) defined on the basis of enteric valve morphology Author Josens, Guy Author Deligne, Jean text European Journal of Taxonomy 2019 2019-04-11 515 1 72 journal article 27314 10.5852/ejt.2019.515 4d4cc07e-3729-4179-90e1-cf469370776a 2118-9773 2638175 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F7AB8B53-FEB1-4473-8B22-DFEC9CE98FDD 2. The bilobatodes valve pattern group The workers within this pattern have basic enteric valves: all six primary cushions are similar in their arrangement ( Fig. 13A ). In the upstream and middle spiny parts, they are armed with relatively strong spines becoming gradually thinner downstream; the middle part also bears some lateral supporting spindle-like bristles leaning on the funnel membrane. In the downstream bristly part, the spines are rather abruptly replaced with longer and bristle-like setae, first straight, then curved and eventually hooked. The primary cushions are mainly fusiform: their largest width is located between the first upstream third and the middle, and their lateral margins converge gradually upstream and downstream ( Fig. 11C ). The odd PCs are longer than the even PCs, giving triradial symmetry to the valve ( Fig. 13A ). An odd PC is made of (a) an upstream spiny part (27–51% of total length) with relatively strong spines, (b) a middle spiny part (24–47% of total length) with somewhat weaker spines and with 13–30 lateral supporting bristles on each side, and (c) a bristly part: (22–37% of total length) with 35–75 straight, curved and eventually hooked bristles ( Fig. 11C ). The secondary cushions are either broad at the upstream end, narrowing noticeably downstream, with a homogeneous scattering of spines (as in Fig. 4E for the species from East and Southern Africa), or somewhat stalked, widening near the first third with a heterogeneous scattering of spines tending towards the shape of a spearhead ( Figs 4F , 13A for the species from West and Central Africa). In the soldier’s enteric valve, the primary cushions are similar to those of the worker with triradial symmetry, the odd PCs being longer than the even PCs; the secondary cushions are broad and either homogeneous or with a tendency towards the shape of spearheads ( Fig. 13B ). This basic valve pattern is therefore characterised by high alternation indices in both workers and soldiers and by fusiform odd PCs; most species are small- to medium-sized. Material examined Five species have such enteric valves: