Ephelotermes paleatus Miller

Bourguignon, Thomas, Leponce, Maurice & Roisin, Yves, 2008, Revision of the Termitinae with snapping soldiers (Isoptera: Termitidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 1769, pp. 1-34 : 8

Ephelotermes paleatus Miller

( Figs 9–12 , 47–48 , 66 )

Ephelotermes paleatus Miller, 1991: 1188 .

Type material examined: paratypes from type locality. AUSTRALIA. Queensland. Weipa, 9.xi.1978, L.R. Miller. ANIC #10–18368.

Other material examined. PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Authors' collection. Fly. # PNGT 1467: Morehead, 27.iii.1989, YR & ML. # PNGT 1578: Lake Murray, 24.v.1990, YR & ML.

Diagnosis. This species is easily recognised from congeners by its small size ( Tables 3–4, 18 ) as well as by the downward projected postmentum of soldiers ( Fig. 10 ). For additional description see Miller (1991). New Guinean specimens of this species slightly differ from Australian ones by the shape of the frontal projection, which is directed upwards. However, we judge this character insufficient to consider them as a distinct species.

Distribution ( Fig. 66 ). We collected this species twice in Papua New Guinea, at Morehead and Lake Murray (Fly). It is also known from northern Queensland, Australia ( Miller 1991, Watson & Abbey 1993: 102).

Length without wings 10.58 Head length to apex of the labrum 0.87 Head length to clypeo-frontal suture 0.50 Head width with eyes 0.74 Eye maximum diameter 0.20 Ocellus maximum length 0.10 Pronotum length 0.45 Pronotum width 0.70 Head length to apex of frontal tubercle 0.99–1.12 Head length to anterolateral corner of the genae 0.91–1.02 Head depth with postmentum 0.45–0.57 Head depth without postmentum 0.57–0.71 Head maximum width 0.60–0.72 Pronotum width 0.38–0.46 Left mandible length 1.24–1.33 Postmentum minimum width 0.14–0.21

Figures

FIGURE 66. Known distribution in New Guinea of:, Ephelotermes paleatus;, Ephelotermes cheeli.

FIGURES 9 – 12. Ephelotermes paleatus: 9, soldier head, dorsal; 10, soldier head, lateral; 11, enteric valve; 12, worker mandibles. Scale bars: 9, 10, 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 56. Alate. Protocapritermes odontomachus: 45, head; 46, pronotum. Ephelotermes paleatus: 47, head; 48, pronotum. Ephelotermes cheeli: 49, head; 50, pronotum. Lophotermes brevicephalus: 51, head; 52, pronotum. Macrognathotermes errator: 53, head; 54, pronotum. Pericapritermes parvus sp. nov.: 55, head; 56, pronotum. Scale bars: 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 54, 56, 0.2 mm; 45, 51, 53, 55, 0.5 mm.