Published December 31, 2008 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Pericapritermes papuanus Bourguignon & Roisin, sp. nov.

Description

Pericapritermes papuanus Bourguignon & Roisin, sp. nov.

(Figs 41–44, 57–58, 64, 67)

Holotype: PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Fly. Authors' collection reference # PNGT 1500: soldier, Wipim, 31.iii.1989, YR & ML. In the collection of the IRSN. Paratypes: PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Fly. Authors' collection reference # PNGT 1500 (same colony as holotype): alates, soldiers and workers.

Diagnosis. This species is more similar to Pericapritermes cf schultzei. It can be distinguished from it by the head of the soldier, longer and more densely hairy, and by the enteric valve of the worker, with a stronger armature.

Imago (Figs 57–58). Head covered with many small setae and about 20 large setae. Large eyes. Ocelli large and close to eyes without touching them. Antennae 15-segmented. Pronotum and entire body covered with numerous setae. Measurements as in Table 16.

Soldier (Figs 41–42). Medium to large size (Table 17). Head twice longer than wide, moderately hairy, covered by setae of medium size. Frons flat. Labrum very short, with few setae. Right mandible large, with unpointed tip. Postmentum narrow and elongated, with widest part 2.5 times larger than the narrowest part. Antennae 14-segmented. Entire body moderately hairy.

Worker (Figs 43, 44). Enteric valve well developed, with cushions each covered by about 15 well sclerotized triangular spines. Measurements as in Table 18.

Head length to anterolateral corner of the genae 3.04–3.28 Head depth with postmentum 1.34–1.44 Head max width 1.59–1.68 Head width at anterolateral corner of the genae 1.34–1.44 Right mandible length 1.79–1.92 Left mandible length 2.03–2.10 Postmentum max width 0.50–055 Postmentum min width 0.18–0.23 Pronotum width 0.83–0.90 Distribution (Fig. 67). Only known from Wipim (Fly) in the southern Papuan savannas.

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the species' geographic origin (Papua New Guinea).

Notes

Published as part of Bourguignon, Thomas, Leponce, Maurice & Roisin, Yves, 2008, Revision of the Termitinae with snapping soldiers (Isoptera: Termitidae) from New Guinea, pp. 1-34 in Zootaxa 1769 on pages 24-25, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.182093

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Scientific name authorship
Bourguignon & Roisin
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Order
Isoptera
Family
Termitidae
Genus
Pericapritermes
Species
papuanus
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic status
sp. nov.
Taxonomic concept label
Pericapritermes papuanus Bourguignon & Roisin, 2008