Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2016-05-11
Page range: 501–522
Abstract views: 61
PDF downloaded: 3

A taxonomic revision of the Neotropical termite genus Rhynchotermes (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae)

Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Cx. Postal 42.494, 04218–970 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Cx. Postal 42.494, 04218–970 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
digestive tube termites new species biodiversity Isoptera

Abstract

We herein revise the taxonomy of the Neotropical syntermitine genus Rhynchotermes Holmgren. Seven species were recognized and diagnosis given for all available castes. This includes two new species: Rhynchotermes amazonensis Constantini & Cancello sp. nov. and Rhynchotermes matraga Constantini & Cancello sp. nov. Rhynchotermes guarany Cancello is recognized as syn. nov. of Rhynchotermes nasutissimus (Silvestri) and Rhynchotermes nyctobius Mathews syn. nov. of Rhynchotermes diphyes Mathews. The three other formerly described species include Rhynchotermes perarmatus (Snyder), Rhynchotermes piauy Cancello and Rhynchotermes bulbinasus Scheffrahn. We also provide a key to the soldiers of the genus, a distribution map of the species as well as illustrations and biological notes for all species.

References

  1. Araujo, R.L. (1977) Catálogo dos Isoptera do Novo Mundo. Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Rio de Janeiro, 92 pp.

    Becker, G. (1953) Einige Beobachtungen über holzzerstörende Insekten (Termiten und Käfer) in Guatemala. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie, 35 (3), 339–373.

    http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1111/j.1439-0418.1954.tb00731.x

    Cancello, E.M. (1997) Rhynchotermes guarany, new species and Rhynchotermes piauy, new species (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) from Brazil. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 40 (9), 147–159.

    Constantino, R. (1999) Chave ilustrada dos gêneros de cupim (Insecta : Isoptera) que ocorrem no Brasil. Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, 40 (25), 387–448.

    Constantino, R. (2002) An illustrated key to Neotropical termite genera (Insecta: Isoptera) based primarily on soldiers. Zootaxa, 67, 1–40.

    Desneux, J. (1904) Isoptera, fam. Termitidae. In: Wytsman, P. (Ed) Genera insectorum, P. Wytsman, Bruxelles, 25, 1–52.

    Eisner, T. (2003) For love of insects. Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 448 pp.

    Fontes, L.R. (1985) New genera and new species of Nasutitermitinae from the Neotropical region (Isoptera, Termitidae). Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 3 (1), 7–25.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0101-81751985000100002

    Fontes, L.R. (1987) Cupins neotropicais da subfamília Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae): Morfologia do soldado e das mandíbulas do alado e operário, anatomia do tubo digestivo do operário e filogenia dos gêneros. Tese (Doutorado em Ciências), São Paulo: Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, 141 pp.

    Holmgren, N. (1912) Termitenstudien 3. Systematik der Termiten. Die Familien Metatermitidae. Konglia Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar, 48 (4), 1–166.

    Kovoor, J. (1969) Anatomie comparée du tube digestif des termites. II. Sous famille des Nasutitermitinae. Insectes sociaux, 16 (3), 195–234.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02223410

    Krishna, K., Grimaldi, D.A., Krishna, V. & Engel, M.S. (2013) Treatise on the Isoptera of the World. 4. Termitidae (Part one). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 377 (4), 973–1495.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1206/377.4

    Mathews, A.G.A. (1977) Studies on termites from the Mato Grosso state, Brazil. Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Rio de Janeiro, 267 pp.

    Mill, A.E. (1983) Generic keys to the soldier caste of New World Termitidae (Isoptera: Insecta). Systematic Entomology, 8 (2), 179–190.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1983.tb00478.x

    Nickle, D.A. & Collins, M.S. (1992) The termites of Panama. In: Quintero, D. & Aiello, A. (Eds.), Insects of Panama and Mesoamerica. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 208–241.

    Noirot, C. (2001) The gut of termites (Isoptera) comparative anatomy, systematics, phylogeny. II. Higher Termites (Termitidae). Annales de la Société Éntomologique de France, 37 (4), 431–471.

    Prestes, A.C., Tepedino, K.P., Kosmann, C. & Pujol-Luz, J.R. (2014) First record of Rhynchotermes nasutissimus (Silvestri) (Isoptera: Syntermitinae) associated with Rat Carrion in Brasília, Brazil. EntomoBrasilis, 7 (1).

    http://dx.doi.org/10.12741/ebrasilis.v7i1.353

    Rocha, M.M. & Cancello, E.M. (2009) Revision of the Neotropical termite genus Orthognathotermes Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae). Zootaxa, 2280, 1–26.

    Rocha, M., Cancello, E.M. & Carrijo, T.F. (2012) Neotropical termites: revision of Armitermes Wasmann (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae) and phylogeny of the Syntermitinae. Systematic Entomology, 37 (4), 793–827.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00645.x

    Rocha, M.M. & Constantini, J.P. (2015) Internal ornamentation of the first proctodeal segment of the digestive tube of Syntermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, 62 (1), 29–44.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/dez.62.8550

    Roisin, Y. (1992) Development of non-reproductive castes in the neotropical termite genera Cornitermes, Embiratermes and Rhynchotermes (Isoptera, Nasutitermitinae). Insectes Sociaux, 39 (3), 313–324.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01323951

    Roonwal, M.L. (1970) Measurements of termites (Isoptera) for taxonomic purposes. Journal of the Zoological Society of India, 21 (1), 9–66.

    Roonwal, M.L. (1981) Evolution and Systematic Significance of Wing Micro-sculpturing in Termites (Isoptera) XI. Some Hitherto Unstudied Genera and Species in Five Families. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 47 (4), 467–473.

    Rosa, J.G. (1966) Sagarana. Translated from the Portuguese by Harriet de Onís. New York: Knopf, 303 pp.

    Sands, W.A. (1972) The soldierless termites of Africa (Isoptera, Termitidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Supplement 18, 1–244.

    Scheffrahn, R.H. (2010) An extraordinary new termite (Isoptera: Termitidae: Syntermitinae: Rhynchotermes) from the pasturelands of northern Colombia. Zootaxa, 2387, 63–68.

    Silvestri, F. (1901) Nota preliminare sui Termitid sud-americani. Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia comparata della Reale Università di Torino, 16 (389), 1–8.

    Silvestri, F. (1903) Contribuzione alla conoscenza dei termite e termitofili dell’America meridionale. Redia, 1, 1–234.

    Snyder, T.E. (1925a) New American termites including a new subgenus. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, 15 (7), 152–162.

    Snyder, T.E. (1925b) [1924] New termites and hitherto unknown castes from the canal zone, Panama. Journal of Agricultural Research, 29 (4), 179–193.

    Snyder, T.E. (1926) Termites collected on the Mulford Biological Exploration to the Amazon Basin, 1921–1922. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 68 (14), 1–76 + 3 pls.

    http://dx.doi.org/10.5479/si.00963801.68-2615.1

    Snyder, T.E. (1949) Catalog of the termites (Isoptera) of the world. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, 112, 1–490.

    Torales, G.J., Laffont, E.R., Godoy, M.C., Coronel, J.M. & Arbino, M.O. (2005) Update on taxonomy and distribution of Isoptera from Argentina. Sociobiology, 45 (3), 853–886.