Mauricio M. Rocha

Neotropical termites: revision of Armitermes Wasmann (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae) and phylogeny of the Syntermitinae

We present a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Syntermitinae, including representatives of all genera of the subfamily, along with all 12 species assigned formerly to the genus Armitermes Wasmann (Termitidae, Syntermitinae), and 4 new species described herein. Syntermitinae was recovered as a natural group and the hypothesis that the frontal tube indicates convergence between Syntermitinae and Nasutitermitinae was corroborated. Also, several diagnostic characters proposed in the original description of Syntermitinae are discussed. Alongside the phylogenetic study, a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Armitermes was carried out, resulting in division of the genus into four genera. Taxonomic novelties are: Armitermes now includes A. armiger (Motschulsky), A. bidentatus Rocha & Cancello sp.n. and A. spininotus Rocha & Cancello sp.n.; Silvestritermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes S. euamignathus (Silvestri) comb.n., S. lanei (Canter) comb.n., S. gnomus (Constantino) comb.n., S. duende Rocha & Cancello sp.n., S. minutus (Emerson) comb.n., S. almirsateri Rocha & Cancello sp.n. and S. holmgreni (Snyder) comb.n.; Uncitermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes U. teevani (Emerson) comb.n.; Mapinguaritermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes M. peruanus (Holmgren) comb.n. and M. grandidens (Emerson) comb.n. A new synonymy is proposed for A. cerradoensis Mathews under S. euamignathus. All soldiers are described and illustrated, as are the mandibles and digestive tract of the worker and the imago caste, when available. We provide a dichotomous key, based on soldiers, for all genera of Syntermitinae, and distribution maps and dichotomous keys, based on soldiers, for the species of Armitermes and all the new genera described herein.

Terpenos em cupins do gênero Nasutitermes (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae)

The chemical composition of the front gland of termites has been studied for over 40 years. The genus Nasutitermes, considered the most evolved of the Termitidae family, has a peculiarity that sets it apart from the others: a caste of soldiers that carry a terpenic mixture used in defense. This secretion is formed by mono, sesqui and diterpenes from trinervitane, kempane and rippertane skeletons, only found in termites. This article sought to review the scientific literature and contribute to the knowledge on the chemical composition of the secretion of the Nasutitermes soldiers from the interesting aspects of its behavior.

A new genus and species of mandibulate nasute termite (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae) from Brazil

Abstract Acangaobitermes krishnai gen. et sp. n., is described here, based on soldiers and workers collected in Brazil. Some characteristics suggest a close kinship with Noirotitermes Cancello & Myles, and both genera share the following traits absent in all other Syntermitinae: the microsculpturing on the soldier head capsule surface with internal granulations; the piercing mandibles with a single very reduced marginal tooth and the worker very similar in both genera. The most conspicuous differences between Acangaobitermes and Noirotitermes are the shape of the soldier head, the frontal tube and pronotum. The shape of the soldier head in Noirotitermes is unusual, with a very broad and short frontal tube, four conspicuous protuberances like sharp corners at the rear, while in the new genus the posterior contour of the head is devoid of these protuberances. The frontal tube of Acangaobitermes is elongate and conical, while in Noirotitermes it is short and very broad. The pronotum of Acangaobitermes is saddle-shaped as is usual in other Syntermitinae, while it is aberrant in Noirotitermes.

Phylogenetic reconstruction of Syntermitinae (Isoptera, Termitidae) based on morphological and molecular data

The subfamily Syntermitinae comprises a group of Neotropical termites with 18 genera and 101 species described. It has been considered a natural group, but relationships among the genera within the subfamily remain uncertain, and some genera appear to be non-monophyletic. Here, we provide a comprehensive phylogeny including six Neotropical species of Termitinae as outgroup, 42 Syntermitinae species as ingroup, 92 morphological characters (from external and internal anatomy of soldier and worker castes) and 117 molecular sequences (109 obtained for this study and 8 from GenBank) of 4 gene regions (41 and 22 from Cytochrome Oxidase I and II respectively, 19 from Cytochrome b, and 35 from 16S rDNA). Morphological and molecular data were analyzed in combination, with the Bayesian inference method, and the important aspects of termite biology, defense and feeding habits are discussed based on the resulting tree. Although useful for providing diagnostic characters, the morphology of the soldier caste reveals several cases of convergence; whereas the feeding habit shows indications of evolutionary significance.

Estudo taxonômico de Cylindrotermes Holmgren (Isoptera, Termitidae Termitinae)

O trabalho e um estudo taxonomico de Cylindrotermes Holmgren (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae), incluindo a redescricao do genero, a descricao de tres especies novas C. caata, C. capixaba e C. sapiranga, alem da redescricao de quatro, das cinco especies anteriormente conhecidas: C. parvignathus, C. brevipilosus, C. macrognathus e C. flangiatus. Os alados de C. brevipilosus e C. macrognathus sao descritos pela primeira vez. Ha ilustracoes de todos os soldados e alados das especies estudadas, bem como uma chave dicotomica de identificacao baseada nos soldados.

Redescription of the enigmatic genus Genuotermes Emerson (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae)

Abstract The imago and soldier castes of the Neotropical Termitinae species Genuotermes spinifer Emerson are redescribed. The gut anatomy of the worker is described in detail for the first time, and morphological variations in the soldier are noted and illustrated. The known geographical distribution of Genuotermes spinifer is greatly expanded.