Isognathotermes bredoi

Josens, Guy, Deligne, Jean, Harry, Myriam, Roy, Virginie, Akama, Pierre D., Coulibaly, Tenon, Dosso, Kanvaly, Goergen, Georg, Hasson, Michel, Kasangij, Patrick Kasangij A, Kifukieto, Carmel, Ru, Bruno Le, Loko, Laura Estelle Yêyinou, Ndiaye, Abdoulaye Baila, Roisin, Yves, Sion, Noémie, Šobotnik, Jan, Stiblik, Petr, Kuenda, Soki Kue Di, Traoré, Saran, Viage, Manuela, Wango, Solange Patricia, Kaymak, Esra, Bourguignon, Thomas & Hellemans, Simon, 2025, An integrative revision of the genus Isognathotermes (Termitidae: Cubitermitinae) with description of seven new species and four new subspecies, European Journal of Taxonomy 1024, pp. 1-197 : 167-168

Isognathotermes bredoi (nomen nudum)

Cubitermes bredoi Mathur & Thapa, 1962 [nomen nudum]: 111.

Cubitermes bredoi – Krishna et al. 2013: 1915.

Diagnosis

The worker has a fungifaber EVA.

The PCA on soldiers’ morphology places this sample at the intersection of the severus and ugandensis ellipses, and near the acristatus ellipse. However, the PCAs on workers’ and soldiers’ valves project this species onto the fungifaber ellipse. The enteric valve has poorly developed crests, which brings it closer to I. acristatus sp. nov. Therefore, this sample seems to be an intermediate between I. ugandensis , I. fungifaber and I. acristatus . This sample therefore deserves to be elevated to the rank of species, provided that other samples with the same characteristics can be found. Hence their provisional classification as Incertae sedis .

The imago is unknown.

Etymology

The name Cubitermes bredoi was given (not published) by A. E. Emerson in honour of Hans Bredo who collected the sample.

Material examined

Two subsamples from the same colony.

ZAMBIA (?) • soldier, worker; Swali ; 8°45′ S, 29°20′ E; 25 May 1941; H. Bredo leg.; study code: DJ 0778; initially C. bredoi (unpublished); AMNH, IZC 00321243 • soldier, worker; Swali ; 8°45′ S, 20°20′ E; 25 May 1941; H. Bredo leg.; study code: DJ 0779; initially C. bredoi (unpublished); AMNH, IZC 00321242 .

Historical review

This putative species is known from a single nest sampled in 1941.

The sample has been named “ Cubitermes bredoi ” by A. Emerson in his unpublished “card catalog” but was not described. It was nevertheless quoted by Mathur & Thapa (1962), and was therefore mentioned as nomen nudum by Krishna et al. (1913: 1915) with an origin ( Zimbabwe) which is likely incorrect.

This sample is not described here, its status remaining uncertain. We don’t wish to describe a new species of which only one nest is known, and which could be an anomaly. Emerson got away with creating a new name, but he too did not describe a new species.

Chorology-ecology

The location (Swali or Suali) could not be found; it is assumed to be in Zambia, near the border with Katanga, DRC, where H. Bredo used to work and where there is a river bearing that name.

Molecular data

No genetic sequence is currently available.