Orthognathotermes uncimandibularis, Rocha, Mauricio Martins Da & Cancello, Eliana M., 2009

Rocha, Mauricio Martins Da & Cancello, Eliana M., 2009, Revision of the Neotropical termite genus Orthognathotermes Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae), Zootaxa 2280, pp. 1-26 : 14-15

Orthognathotermes uncimandibularis , new species

(figs. 11, 32)

Holotype: soldier, part of lot MZUSP-8352, 20.iii.1977, A. Bandeira coll.

Type-locality: Brazil: Amazonas State, Manaus/Boa Vista Road (BR- 174, km 31).

Paratypes: BRAZIL. Amazonas: Manaus/Boa Vista (Km 31): 20.iii.1977, A. Bandeira coll. (8352); BR- 174, Km 54: 5.viii.2000, I. Ackerman coll. (INPA-0003) 6.v.2002. (INPA-02014, INPA-02017); 7.vii.2002. (INPA-02028); 5.vi.2002. (INPA-02079); Manaus: 1.iii.1997, E. Barros coll. (UnB-2007).

Etymology: uncimandibularis is a combination of the words “ unci ” (= hook) and “ mandibula ” (= mandible), from Latin, in reference to the curved tip of left mandible, like a hook.

Imago. Unknown.

Soldier. Head with sides slightly convergent in front in dorsal view. In profile dorsal lump slightly salient, behind the flanges. Mandibles of the second pattern, left mandible with the tip strongly curved, like a distinct terminal hook, and tip of the right mandible forming a 90º angle with proximal portion of mandible, tooth-like projection at proximal half. Head capsule with sparse bristles and short hairs, denser on ventral surface, scattered microscopic hairs on entire head capsule and denser in distal region. Posmentum with bristles. Pronotum with short hairs on surface and bristles on margins. Mesonotum and metanotum with bristles on posterior margins. Abdominal tergites and sternites densely covered with bristles, erect bristles on posterior margins.

Comparisons. O. uncimandibularis sp. nov. soldier differs from all other species by the pronounced terminally curved tip of left mandible, like a hook.

Geographical distribution. All records of O. uncimandibularis sp. nov. are in Amazonian forest ( Fig. 32 ).

Figures

FIGURE 32. Geographic distribution of O. gibberorum, O. longilamina sp. nov., O. macrocephalus and O. uncimandibularis sp. nov.