Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar, 1837)

Herhold, Hollister W, Davis, Steven R, Degrey, Samuel P & Grimaldi, David A, 2023, COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE INSECT TRACHEAL SYSTEM PART 1: INTRODUCTION, APTERYGOTES, PALEOPTERA, POLYNEOPTERA, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 459 (1), pp. 1-184 : 1-184

Reticulitermes flavipes

“Eastern subterranean termite”

Figures 122 (lateral), 123 (dorsal, ventral)

Plates 76 (lateral), 77 (dorsal), 78 (ventral)

DESCRIPTION: HEAD: H-Oc absent, as is typical in termite workers and soldiers. H-DCT runs slightly dorsad anterior of cervix, with visceral branches dorsad and lateral. H-DCT arcing anteriad, with H-Ant branching laterally where H-DCT meets H-DVB join with H-VCT. H-VCT running directly anteriad, with split into H-MdMx branch, H-Lbm, and third branch that splits into H-DVB dorsad, H-Ft anteriad, and H-VC medially. H-Md-Mx anteriad, with H-Mx dividing ventrad. H-Md runs anteriad with short branch anteriad as second H-Ant.

THORAX: T2-S with four branches: H-DCT, H-VCT, T2-DB, and T2-VB. H-DCT runs mediad, curving anteriad toward head capsule. H-VCT curving similar to H-DCT, but with single T1-L directly ventrad; T1-AL and T2-PL absent, but T1-VC present, branching from T1-L and joining medially. T2-DB short, with T2-AWL splitting dorsally and posteriad; T2-DLT continues medially, splitting into Y-shaped junction with T2-DLT posteriad and a pronounced, looping T1-DLT joining with H-DCT. T2-AWL arcing dorsad, bifurcating into T2-Wbr and T2-AL at apex of curve. T2-Wbr runs posteriad, linking with T3-S via T2-PWL; T2-AL runs ventrad, proceeding into T2-L. T2-VB short and running ventrad, splitting into anterior visceral branch and remaining T2-VB, running ventrad and toward posterior as T2-VLT. T2-Wbr with small T2-W-c-r and T2-W-cu-a present. T2-VC present, extending off T2-VLT. T3-S with three branches: T2-PWL, T3-DB, and T3-VB. T2-PWL anteriad from T3-S, splitting into T2-Wbr toward T2-S and T2-PL running ventrad, joining with T2-AL and proceeding into midleg as T2-L. T3-DB runs directly mediad, with T3-AWL branch arcing posteriorly close to T3-S; remining T3-DB runs further mediad, joining with T2-DLT from anterior and proceeding as T3-DLT toward posterior. T3-AWL arcing posteriorly, splitting into dorsal T3-Wbr and ventrad T3-AL. T3-W-c-r and T3-W-cu-a not visible off T3-Wbr but likely present and very small. T3-VB runs ventrad with anterior branch leading to T2-VL. T2-VB continuing ventrad, joining with T2-DLT anterior and T3-DLT posterior in Y-shaped junction. T3-VC present, branching medially off T3-DLT.

ABDOMEN: A1..8-S present. Short A n -SB possible on several segments. Nearly all A n -DB and A n -VB with visceral branches that occasionally span several segments. A1-S with three branches: T3-PWL, A1-DB, and A1-VB. T3-PWL joining medially from anterior, completing link between T3-S via T3-Wbr. A1-DB runs mediad and slightly ventrad, with A1-DB- Vi branching ventrally while A1-DB, smaller, continuing medially to join T3-DLT from anterior and A1-DLT to posterior in Y-shaped join. A1-VB runs ventrad, splitting off A1-VB-Vi with A1-VB continuing ventrad with T3-VL lateral before A1-VB splits to join T3-VLT from anterior and A1-VLT to posterior; A1-VC present, branching off A1-VB. Remaining A2..8-S with just A n -DB and A n -VB branches. A n -DB runs mediad and slightly ventral, meeting A n - DLT branches from anterior and posterior in Y-shaped junction. A n -DLT typically small and sinuous. Large A n -DB-Vi typical for all segments, often asymmetric and extending into various abdominal regions and occasionally spanning several segments. A n -DC absent. A n -VB runs ventrad, following body wall, continuing to form A n -VC. Large A n -VB-Vi also typical for all segments; directional notation in 3D supplemental models for visceral tracheae is to denote relative directions for clarity and not an assessment of homology. A n -VB with small A n -MLT branching ventrad from A n -S, directly posteriad toward proceeding posterior segment, linking with A n -VB. As with A n -DLT, A n -MLT often small and hard to distinguish, occasionally not visible on one side of the specimen but likely present.

Figures

FIGURE 122. Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) lateral view.

FIGURE 123. Reticulitermes flavipes (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) dorsal (left) and ventral (right).