A giant termite of the genus <i>Gyatermes</i> from the late Miocene of Nagano Prefecture, Japan (Isoptera)

Abstract

A new species of the termite genus <em>Gyatermes</em> Engel & Gross (Archotermopsidae) is described and figured from a beautifully preserved forewing in late Neogene sediments of Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The approximately 27-mm long forewing of <em><strong>Gyatermes naganoensis</strong></em> Engel & Tanaka, new species, is preserved in Late Miocene (late Messinian) mudstone of the Ogawa Formation (<em>ca</em>. 6 Ma), and is distinguished from its slightly older and larger congener <em>G. styriensis</em> Engel & Gross, from the early Tortonian of Styria, Austria. Comments are provided regarding the paleoclimatic implications of a giant termite in the Miocene fauna of Nagano.