A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical termite genera Labiotermes Holmgren and Paracornitermes Emerson (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)
Author
Constantino, Reginaldo
Author
Acioli, Agno N. S.
Author
Schmidt, Karen
Author
Cuezzo, Carolina
Author
Carvalho, Sérgio H. C.
Author
Vasconcellos, Alexandre
text
Zootaxa
2006
1340
1
44
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.174374
80503f5c-7804-48b8-ba08-74e829445a6b
11755326
174374
Labiotermes leptothrix
Mathews
Labiotermes leptothrix
Mathews, 1977
: 208
–210 [imago (Fig. 149, 160), soldier (Fig. 148), enteric valve armature (Pl. 49)]
Labiotermes pellisetaceus
nomen nudum
,
Mathews 1977
: 201
, 207, 259, 262 [figure captions only]
Holotype
:
imago, female (
MZSP
), examined.
Typelocality:
Brazil
: Mato Grosso, Xavantina.
Imago.
Described and illustrated by
Mathews (1977: 208–209)
.
Soldier
(
Figs. 6
A–B, 11F). Described by
Mathews (1977: 209)
. Additional measurements are presented in
Table 2
.
Comparisons.
The soldier of
L. leptothrix
is easily recognizable by the presence of numerous microscopic hairs on the head capsule. However, these hairs are only visible with magnification of
40X
or higher and adequate light. The most similar species are
L. longilabius
and
L. brevilabius
, which lack these microscopic hairs and have different labra.
Worker
(
Figs. 6
C–F, 13F, 14D, 15K–L, 16F). Head capsule and postclypeus with numerous bristles. Pronotum with numerous bristles on anterior lobe and a row of bristles on posterior margin. Mesonotum with a line of bristles on posterior margin. Front coxa with a lateral hump near base. Antenna with 15 articles. Fontanelle large and rounded. Enteric valve with 5 fingerlike ridges of unequal sizes, covered with fine spines. Mixed segment with two elongate mesenteric lobes; large lobe with narrow tip; small lobe about one third the length of the large one. Measurements in
Table 3
.
Comparisons.
The worker of
L. leptothrix
can be recognized by the very large apical teeth on both mandibles and the enteric valve armature, which has 5 ridges.
Geographical distribution.
L. leptothrix
occurs in the northern part of the Cerrado biome (
Fig. 21
). Most records are from cerrado vegetation, but
Mathews (1977: 210)
also found it in a valley forest.
Remark 1
.
Mathews (1977: 234, plate 49)
states that the enteric valve of
L. leptothrix
has 6 fingerlike plates (ridges). However, his own illustration shows only 5 ridges. All specimens we examined had 5 ridges, not 6.
Remark 2
.
Labiotermes pellisetaceus
is a
nomen nudum
which appears in figure captions in
Mathews (1977)
, obviously as a result of an error. The association of a name with illustrations alone does not satisfy the requirements of article 13 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN, 1999). The fact that the original description of
L. leptothrix
was published in the same book is irrelevant. The name itself should be accompanied by a description or definition that states in words characters that are purported to diferentiate the taxon. This name is not available and therefore is not to be treatead as a real synonym.
Material examined
BRAZIL
.
Amazonas
. Humaitá: s., w.,
01.vii.2003
, G.C. Costa (UnB4784).
Goiás
.
Alvorada do Norte, Fazenda Paraná: s., w.,
24–25.viii.2003
, D.L. Bernardo (UnB4021, 4067). Mimoso: s., w.,
21.ii.1999
, R. Chaves (UnB1946). Minaçu, Serra da Mesa: s., w.,
25.ii.1997
, R. Constantino (UnB235, 236).
Mato Grosso
. Chapada dos Guimarães, Rio Manso: s., w.,
16–17.i.1999
, R. Constantino (UnB849, 891). Chapada dos Guimarães: s., w.,
10.ii.1976
, R.L. Araujo (MZSP6574, 6608). Cuiabá: s., w.,
15.ii.1976
, R.L. Araujo (MZSP6536).
Rondonia
. Pimenta Bueno: s., w.,
24.vii.2000
, R. Constantino (UnB2524).