Vaninitermes ignotus, Constantino, 1991

Rocha, Mauricio M. & Cancello, Eliana M., 2022, Updated taxonomy of Syntermitinae (Blattodea: Isoptera, Termitidae), with the description of three new genera, Zootaxa 5138 (4), pp. 445-463 : 453-455

Vaninitermes ignotus , new combination

Embiratermes ignotus Constantino, 1991: 213 (soldier), figs 36–38.

Embiratermes parvirostris Constantino, 1992 , 330–332 (soldier and worker), figs 1–3 new synonymy.

Type Material. Holotype soldier of E. ignotus , deposited at MPEG, from Brazil, Amazonas state, Japurá River, 10 Km downstream from the town of Maraã , 15.x.1988, R. Constantino coll. (MPEG-2879, not examined), and worker paratypes from the same holotype colony (not examined) ; Holotype soldier of E. parvirostris , deposited at MPEG, from Brazil, Amapá State. Macapá , 22.x.1989, R. Constantino coll. (MPEG-3203, not examined), and soldier and worker paratypes from the same holotype colony (examined) .

Imago ( Figs 8 , 9 ). Head rounded, eyes very large hemispherical and protruded, reaching head ventral margin; ocelli large and projected, reniform from above and ellipsoid in profile, almost touching the eyes. Fontanelle large, triangular, with blurred anterior margin in some individuals. Postclypeus slightly convex. Antennae with 15 articles, 3 <4=5<6, 7 and 8, the last articles larger than the previous ones, and almost same size among them. Epicranial suture visible, with many white spots on its anterior branches; Fronto-clypeal suture pronounced. Mandibles as in Fig. 9 , with apical teeth larger than marginal ones, with concave anterior margin. Molar areas without ridges. Pronotum with anterior margin very slightly emarginated and posterior well emarginated. Posterior margin of mesonotum and metanotum emarginated ( Fig. 8a ). Light brown head, with many white spots, most of them at base of bristles; clypeus and labrum much lighter; yellowish white antennae. Pronotum much lighter than head. Hairy head, with bristles of different size and shorter hairs. Pronotum covered of hairs and bristles on the surface and along margins. Tergites very hairy, with hairs of different size and bristles on posterior margins, sternites very hairy with erect bristles on posterior margins. Measurements, in millimeters, of six imagos (five males and one female): maximum diameter of compound eye: 0.28–0.31; length of the tibia (third leg): 0.85–0.96; width of head with eyes: 0.81–0.87; maximum width of pronotum: 0.54–0.60; height of head: 0.34–0.39.

Soldier. Described by Constantino (1990, 1992). It is possible to affirm that both descriptions may be considered as intraspecific variation of the soldier caste. Additional figures of the soldier are provided here ( Fig. 10 ).

Worker. External morphology as described for the genus.

Digestive tube ( Figs 11 , 12 ). As described for the genus, the gut configuration is the same as V. brevinasus , differing only in the size.

Material examined. BRAZIL. Alagoas: Quebrangulo, 21.vi.2000, A.Vasconcellos (14220). Amapá: Macapá, 22.x.1989, R.Constantino (9544, Embiratermes parvirostris paratypes). Amazonas: Nova Aliança, 19.iii.2004, A.N.S.Acioli (UNB-5711, UNB-5739). Bahia: Ilhéus, 06.xi.2000, E.M.Cancello (14221). Espírito Santo: Pedro Canario, FLONA Rio Preto, 21.xi.2016, J.P.Constantini, (26769); Pedro Canario, REBIO Córrego Grande, 20.xi.2016, J.P.Constantini, (26714, 26719); Reserva Biológica de Sooretama, 03.iv.2001, L.C.Oliveira (12327); Sooretama, Trilha do Quirinão, 26.xi.2014, T.Carrijo (24691, 24751, 24754). Mato Grosso: Cláudia, 11.xi.2010, Q.C.L.Santos (15954), 13.x.2010 (15923, 15956), 14.x.2010 (15958), 15.x.2010 (15947). Mato Grosso do Sul: Paraíso das Águas, 25.vii.2015, J.P.Constantini (24038). Pará: Abel Figueiredo, 28.xi.2013, R.G.Santos (26007); Abel Figueiredo, Fazenda Marhe 27.xi.2013, T.F.Carrijo, (22633*); Serra do Cachimbo, 20.ix.2003, R.Constantino (11298). Paraíba: João Pessoa, 28.ix–18.x.1993, L.G.Silva (9937, 9939), 19.viii.1994 (9938); João Pessoa, Mata do Buraquinho, 05.iv.2001,A.Vasconcellos(14209–14219). Pernambuco:Recife,Horto Dois Irmãos, 04–08.vii.2000,A.Vasconcellos (14204, 14205, 14207, 14208), M.P.Silva (14206). Rondônia: Pimenta Bueno, 25.vii.2000, R.Constantino (UNB- 2532); Porto Velho, Abunã, 09.iii.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (12986, 12987), 17.v.2010, T.Carrijo & M.Rocha (20732), 19.ix.2010, M.Rocha & V.Mercado (20736), 14.i.2011, M.Rocha & L.Prado (20742), 15.i.2011 (20740, 20741), 06.iv.2011, V.Mercado & R.Probst (20743), S.Rosa & G.Mazão (20744), 14.ix.2012, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20759), 16.ii.2013, M.Ulysséa & A.Barbão (20765, 20766), 30.iv.2013, F.Andriolli & P.Manholer (20768); Porto Velho, Jaci Paraná /Ilha da Pedra, 14.ix.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20770–20772), 16.i.2011, R.Santos & C.Mandai (20790, 20791), 09.vi.2011, M.Rocha & J.Cabral (20799), 21.xi.2011 (20801); Porto Velho, Jaci Paraná / Morrinhos, 19.ix.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20784, 20785); Porto Velho, Jaci Paraná /Três Praias, 20.ix.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20777–20783), 08.iv.2011, R.Santos & C.Mandai (20798), 09.iv.2011 (20796, 20797), 10.ix.2011, R.Santos & J.Cabral (20800), 24.xi.2011, M.Rocha & J.Cabral (20803–20806), 25.xi.2011 (20802), 06.iii.2012, T.Carrijo & J.Cabral (20809*, 20810–20811), 07.iii.2012 (20807, 20808*), 06.vi.2012 M.Rocha & J.Cabral (20813); Porto Velho, Mutum-Paraná/Caiçara, 01.iii.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (12989), 02.iii.2010 (12988), 27.ii.2010 (13005*), 25.vi.2010, T.Carrijo & S.Rosa (20733, 20734), 09.ix.2010, M.Rocha & V.Mercado (20737, 20738), 19.vi.2011, S.Rosa & G.Mazão (20745), 17.ix.2011, T.Carrijo & L.Fernandes (20746, 20747, 20748), 05.i.2012, R.Santos & J.Constantini (20751), 06.i.2012 (20752), 29.iii.2012, M.Rocha & R.Santos (20755), 19.vi.2012, R.Santos & K.Kawamishi (20758), 09.ix.2012, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20763), 10.ix.2012 (20760, 20761, 20762), 08.v.2013, F.Andriolli & P.Manholer (20769); Porto Velho, Mutum-Paraná/Mutum, 05.iii.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (12990), 13.ix.2011, T.Carrijo & L.Fernandes (20749, 20750), 08.i.2012, R.Santos & J.Constantini (20754), 10.i.2012 (20753), 31.iii.2012, M.Rocha & R.Santos (20756), 02.iv.2012 (20757), 08.ix.2012, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20764), 09.ii.2013, M.Ulysséa & A.Barbão (20767); Porto Velho, Nova Mutum Paraná /Jirau, 17.ix.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20774, 20775, 20776), 18.ix.2010 (20773), 09.i.2011, R.Santos & C.Mandai (20792, 20793), 11.iv.2011 (20795); Porto Velho, Teotônio, 22.ix.2010, T.Carrijo & R.Santos (20786–20789), 19.i.2011, R.Santos & C.Mandai (20794), 09.iii.2012, T.Carrijo & J.Cabral (20812). Tocantins: Guaraí, 24.xi.2013, T.F.Carrijo (22577); Mateiros, Jalapão, 21.xi.2013, T.F.Carrijo (22578).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Imago of Vaninitermes ignotus, head and thorax. a, dorsal view; b, profile.

FIGURE 9. Imago head of Vaninitermes ignotus with exposed mandibles.

FIGURE 10. Soldier of Vaninitermes ignotus. a, head in dorsal view; b, in profile; E. parvirostris (paratype), c, head in dorsal view; d, in profile.

FIGURE 11. Worker gut of Vaninitermes ignotus. a, gizzard; b, enteric valve.

FIGURE 12. Worker gut of Vaninitermes ignotus. a, dorsal; b, left; c, ventral; d, right view.