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 laticephalus
(Silvestri)
,
new combination
Cornitermes laticephalus
Silvestri, 1901
: 5
;
Silvestri 1903
: 61
, 127 [soldier (Pl. Fig. 107), worker];
Desneux 1904
: 37
(
Termes
);
Holmgren 1912
: 50
(
Cornitermes
subgenus
Labiotermes
);
Snyder 1949
: 333
(
Paracornitermes
);
Emerson 1952
: 485
(
Paracornitermes
)[soldier,
Fig. 4
];
Araujo 1954
: 183
–185 (
Paracornitermes
) [soldier,
Figs. 2–3
,
5
].
Syntypes
:
soldiers and workers (DEZA, MCSN), not examined.
Typelocality:
Brazil
: Mato Grosso, Cuiabá.
Imago.
Unknown.
Major soldier
(
Figs. 5
A–F, 11E). Head capsule subrectangular in dorsal view; sides convex, converging towards front. Frontal tube small but conspicuous, conical, with narrow tip, oriented anteriorly. Top of head in profile nearly straight. Antenna with 15–16 articles. Labrum wider than long; sides convex. Mandibles short and robust. Left mandible: cutting edge between apical and 1st marginal Sshaped; cutting edge between marginal teeth concave. Right mandible with two marginal teeth, about the same size and grouped together near base. Front coxa with a lateral conical projection near base. Head capsule and labrum brownish yellow; thorax and legs lighter than head capsule; tergites and sternites yellowish. Head capsule with numerous short and straight bristles of variable size; postmentum with a few short bristles near anterior margin; anterior margin of pronotum with a row of bristles; posterior margin with two bristles; tergites and sternites densely covered with bristles and fine hairs. Measurements in
Table 2
.
Minor soldier
(
Figs. 5
G–K). Smaller than major soldier; head narrower, with parallel sides; antenna with 15 articles; bristles more numerous on the head. Measurements in
Table 2
.
Comparisons.
See
L. emersoni
.
Worker
(
Figs. 5
L–
O
, 13E, 14C,
15I
–J, 16E). Head capsule and postclypeus with numerous bristles. Pronotum with numerous bristles on anterior lobe and a few bristles on posterior margin. Mesonotum with a line of 8 or more bristles on posterior margin. Front coxa with a conspicuous lateral conical projection near base. Antenna with 15 articles. Fontanelle large and rounded. Enteric valve with 4 fingerlike ridges of unequal sizes covered with fine spines. Mixed segment with two mesenteric lobes; large lobe elongate, proximal part narrow; small lobe oval, much smaller, its proximal part very narrow. Measurements in
Table 3
.
Comparisons.
See
L. emersoni
.
Geographical distribution.
Labiotermes laticephalus
has been recorded from relatively few localities (
Fig. 20
), most of them in Cerrado biome of
Brazil
.
Torales
et al.
(2005)
report its occurrence in northern
Argentina
.
Remarks.
Silvestri (1903: 61)
mentions two sizes of soldiers. However, the material available for this study was limited and only one sample had two distinct soldier sizes, while the others had only one size. Based on the measurements, they fall into two nonovelaping groups.
Material examined
BRAZIL
.
Distrito Federal
. Fazenda Água Limpa: s.,
01.vii.1992
, M. Lima (UnB 1256).
Goiás
. Anápolis: s., w.,
10.ii.1958
, W.W. Kempf (MZSP4685).
Mato Grosso
. Chapada dos Guimarães, Rio Manso: s., w.,
12–17.v.1999
, R. Constantino (UnB1638, 1663, 1669, 1673). Cuiabá: s., w.,
19.ii.1985
, M. Zanuto (MPEG2311). Santo Antônio do Leverger: s., w.,
26.x.1984
, J.C. Trager (MZSP8595).
Mato Grosso do Sul
. Corumbá: s., w., no date, Bordi (MZSP213).
Minas Gerais
. Paracatu, Fazenda Rossato: s., w.,
27.x.2001
, R. Constantino (UnB3084).
FIGURES 5.
Labiotermes laticephalus
. Large soldier: A, head in dorsal view; B, pronotum in dorsal view; C, pronotum in posterior view; D, postmentum; E, head in profile; F, right front leg. Small soldier: G, head in dorsal view; H, pronotum in dorsal view; I, pronotum in posterior view; J, head in profile; K, postmentum. Worker: L, right front leg; M, head in dorsal view; N, thorax; O,
head in profile. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.