RESUMO

The neotropical Apicotermitinae is a common and widespread clade of mostly soil-feeding soldierless termites. With few exceptions, species of this group were originally assigned to the genus Anoplotermes Müller, 1873. The application of internal worker morphology coupled with genetic sequencing has recently shed light on the true diversity of this subfamily. Herein, Anoplotermessusanae Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, sp. nov. and four new species in four new genera are described: Hirsutitermeskanzakii Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, gen. nov. et sp. nov., Krecekitermesdaironi Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, gen. nov. et sp. nov., Mangolditermescurveileum Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, gen. nov. et sp. nov., and Ourissotermesgiblinorum Scheffrahn, Carrijo & Castro, gen. nov. et sp. nov. Worker descriptions are based mainly on worker gut morphology, including the enteric valve, while imagoes were described based on external characters. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree of New World Apicotermitinae was constructed using the complete mitogenome to infer genera relationships and corroborate the taxonomic decisions. Distribution maps and a dichotomic key to the known Neotropical Apicotermitinae genera are provided.

RESUMO

Herein we describe three new genera based on a previous phylogenetic analysis of the termite subfamily Syntermitinae (Termitidae), which indicated that the genera Embiratermes Fontes and Ibitermes Fontes were paraphyletic. In order to resolve this paraphyly, the genus is more narrowly circumscribed, resulting in the following taxonomic changes: Biratermes gen. n., is established to accommodate Embiratermes robustus Constantino, 1992; Vaninitermes gen. n. is described for Armitermes brevinasisus Emerson Banks, 1957 and E. ignotus Constantino, 1991; and Bandeiratermes gen. n., is proposed to accommodate Armitermes silvestrii Emerson in Snyder, 1949 and Ibitermes tellustris Constantino, 1990. In addition, E. parvirostris Constantino, 1992 is considered a new junior subjective synonym of E. ignotus, and the imago of E. ignotus is described for the first time. Descriptions and illustrations of the workers digestive tube are included for all species, along with drawings of the coiling worker gut of E. festivellus (Silvestri, 1901). Photographs are provided for the soldiers of all of the aforementioned species. The new genera are compared with all other genera of Syntermitinae.

Assuntos

Baratas , Isópteros , Animais , Filogenia

RESUMO

Paraphasma Redtenbacher, 1906 is a genus of fully-winged stick insects occurring in central and northern South America. We carried out a morphology-based taxonomic revision of this genus with emphasis on the phallic organ, a structure that has been poorly explored for taxonomic purposes in Phasmatodea. Additionally, pairwise genetic distances between mitochondrial COI gene sequences were calculated for ten Paraphasma specimens representing six species. We recognize nine valid species in the genus plus one nomen dubium, Paraphasma fasciatum Gray, 1835. We redescribe Paraphasma and the species previously assigned to it, describe Paraphasma indistinctum Chiquetto-Machado sp. nov., Paraphasma sooretama Chiquetto-Machado sp. nov. and Paraphasma spinicauda Chiquetto-Machado sp. nov., and provide a key to the species in the genus. The male of Paraphasma minus Redtenbacher, 1906 is described for the first time, as well as the eggs of six species. We transfer Paraphasma amabile Redtenbacher, 1906 to Pseudophasma Kirby, 1896 (comb. nov.) and synonymize Pseudophasma xanthotaenidium Gnther, 1930 under this species (syn. nov.). In addition, Phasma perspicillaris Stoll, 1813 is removed from the synonymy of Paraphasma laterale (Fabricius, 1775) and synonymized under Parastratocles xanthomela (Olivier, 1792) (syn. nov.). The examination of the phallic organ was essential for species delimitation, as most species of Paraphasma are very similar in the external morphology of both sexes. The analysis of the COI sequences supported the species delimitation, resulting in remarkably lower pairwise distances between conspecific individuals (p-distance 2.0%) than between different species (p-distance 6.917.5%). We hope that this paper will stimulate further studies exploring the taxonomic and phylogenetic potential of the internal male genitalia of stick insects.

Assuntos

Genes Mitocondriais , Neópteros , Animais , Feminino , Masculino , Filogenia

RESUMO

We present new information on the poorly known genus of stick insects, Canuleius Stål, 1875, with redescriptions of two Brazilian species, Canuleius grandis Toledo Piza, 1936 and Canuleius sanguinolentus (Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1907) comb. nov., the latter herein transferred from Bacteria Berthold, 1827. Type material of both species was examined, as well as additional specimens recently collected and deposited at the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZUSP). The types of two other species in the genus, Canuleius affinis Toledo Piza, 1936 and Canuleius brevipes Toledo Piza, 1936, were also examined and both species are herein synonymised under C. grandis (syn. nov.). The study includes the first descriptions of the male of C. grandis, the female of C. sanguinolentus and the eggs of both species, which are the first descriptions of eggs of Canuleius. Some notes are presented on the biology of both species, including the first observations of mating and oviposition in Heteronemiidae. Taxonomic aspects of Canuleius are discussed.

Assuntos

Insetos , Neópteros , Animais , Feminino , Masculino

RESUMO

In this contribution we present updates on the taxonomy and morphology of the South American species of Amitermes. Two new species are described: Amitermes bandeirai, sp. n., from Brazil, and Amitermes lilloi, sp. n., from Argentina. Amitermes nordestinus is a junior synonym of Amitermes aporema. The imago of A. aporema is described for the first time. Detailed comparative gut anatomy of the eight species is presented for the first time. The geographic distribution of Amitermes in South America is expanded and the distribution patterns of some species are discussed.

Assuntos

Trato Gastrointestinal , Isópteros , Animais , Trato Gastrointestinal/anatomia & histologia , Isópteros/anatomia & histologia , Isópteros/classificação

RESUMO

A new genus, Tonsuritermes Cancello Constantini gen. nov., is described from South America. The main morphological features of the new genus are a remarkable frontal gland and protibia with two rows of spine-like bristles. Two new species of Tonsuritermes are described: T. tucki Cancello Constantini sp. nov. and T. mathewsi Cancello Constantini sp. nov. Comparisons, measurements, a map, histology of the frontal gland, and illustration of all fundamental morphological aspects are provided.

Assuntos

Baratas , Isópteros , Animais , América do Sul

RESUMO

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.

Assuntos

Isópteros/genética , Animais , Teorema de Bayes , Evolução Biológica , Citocromos b/genética , DNA Ribossômico/genética , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Filogenia

RESUMO

We establish herein a new genus of Neotropical termites of the subfamily Nasutitermitinae, Sandsitermes gen. nov.. The new genus accommodates a previously described species, Nasutitermes robustus (Holmgren), and is diagnosed by worker characters, including the mandibles, the gut-coiling configuration in situ, and the pattern of cushions and spines of the enteric valve. We characterized and illustrated the imago for the first time and redescribe the soldier and worker castes of Sandsitermes robustus gen. et comb. nov. from syntypes and other samples from eastern Peru. We support our taxonomic decision, presenting morphological differences between the gut pattern and enteric valve of S. robustus and 13 neotropical Nasutitermes species studied for this report, and discuss possible relationships with other neotropical nasute termites.

Assuntos

Isópteros , Animais , Peru , América do Sul

RESUMO

We present the description of Muelleritermes, new genus, and two new species: M. fritzi, sp. n. and M. globiceps, sp. n. Both species were found only in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. All castes are described and illustrated, and a distribution map is provided. These species seem to be closely related to the genera Velocitermes and Diversitermes, sharing traits such as the presence of three types of soldiers and workers and a short mixed segment. This genus differs from Velocitermes and Diversitermes in the presence of a few ommatids on soldier's head, behind the antennae. It also differs from Velocitermes in the lack of a constriction on the head of major soldiers, and from Diversitermes in the presence of short hairs on top of the soldier's head, instead of microscopic ones.

Assuntos

Isópteros/classificação , Distribuição Animal , Estruturas Animais/anatomia & histologia , Estruturas Animais/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Tamanho Corporal , Brasil , Feminino , Florestas , Isópteros/anatomia & histologia , Isópteros/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Larva/anatomia & histologia , Larva/classificação , Larva/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Masculino , Tamanho do Órgão

RESUMO

Nest plasticity of Cornitermes silvestrii (Isoptera, Termitidae, Syntermitinae) in response to flood pulse in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The Pantanal is one of the largest wetlands in the world. Since many areas in Pantanal are flooded during part of the year, it is expected that plants and animals would have mechanisms for their survival during the flooded period. This study investigated the existence of differences in nest shape and inquilines of Cornitermes silvestrii in areas influenced by the flood pulse. We measured the volume, height, width, and height/width ratio of 32 nests in flooded areas and 27 in dry areas, and performed an one-way-Anova with the quasi-Poisson distribution to determine if there were differences in the nest measurements between the points. To analyze the relationship of nest inquilines to flood pulse and nest shape, we performed a regression with a Poisson distribution with the inquiline richness and flood pulse, and the above measurements. The nests of C. silvestrii in flooded areas were significantly higher than nests in dry areas, and had a larger height/width ratio. Colonies in periodically flooded areas would probably make a larger effort to extend their nests vertically, to maintain at least some portion of the structure out of the water and prevent the entire colony from being submerged. Neither the size of the nest nor the flood pulses influenced the assemblage of 11 species found in nests of C. silvestrii.

RESUMO

Acangaobitermes krishnaigen. 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.