Taxonomic and Ecological Notes on Termes propinquus Holmgren, 1914 Known from Sumatra (Blattodea: Termitoidae: Termitidae).

Samsul Muarrif,Dalil Sutekad,Jauharlina Jauharlina,Syaukani Syaukani,Samadi Samadi,Mehrbakhsh Nilashi

doi:10.1155/2022/9475722

Abstract

The genus Termes Linneus, 1758 consisting of a total of 24 valid named species known from the Old World, is a very heterogeneous group of termites and seems to involve many taxonomic obscurities and confusions. In the island of Sumatra, the sixth-largest island located in the Southeast Asian tropics, four species of Termes have been found, namely, T. comis, T. laticornis, T. rostratus, and T. propinquus. Termes propinquus is also known from Brunei, Indonesia (Kalimantan and Sumatra), Malaysia, and Thailand. However, previous authors have mentioned that T. propinquus has been poorly discriminated from the other congeners, especially T. rostratus. Therefore, the present study aimed at clarifying the discrimination of Termes propinquus from the morphologically similar congeners from Sumatra. A total of 14 nests were collected using a standardized sampling protocol and visual colony searching in Sumatra and its adjacent island. As a result of a careful morphological examination of the soldier caste, T. propinquus was discriminated from the three other congeners by a combination of the following characteristics: distinctly long frontal projection, larger head capsule, and 2nd antennal segment distinctly longer than the 3rd. The redescription of the soldier caste of T. propinquus and a key to Termes species known from Sundaland are provided. The nests of T. propinquus were attached to the bases of living trees, clinging to stumps or the bases of the dead tree, or were epigeal.

Highlights

Termites, from the epifamily Termitoidae, are dominant invertebrates in tropical and subtropical soil ecosystems [1,2,3] and perform indispensable functions as mechanical decomposers and ecological engineers, creating and preparing microhabitats for other organisms, including microbes that contribute to the decomposition process of organic matter [4,5,6].Termitoidae is a monophyletic lineage consisting of more than 2 900 validly named species [7, 8], belonging to 281 genera and nine families
On the island of Sumatra, the sixth-largest island located in the Southeast Asian tropics, four species of Termes are known, namely, T. comis [17], T. laticornis [17], T. rostratus [17], and T. propinquus [13]
As many as 10–20 individuals of the soldier caste were used for each colony. e syntypes in the collection of the Entomology Department, the Natural History Museum (UK), were examined (Table 2). e focus stacking images of the head, body, pronotum, and antenna of the soldier caste were created using Helicon Focus 6 software based on source images taken as multilayer montages using a Leica M205C stereomicroscope, controlled by Leica Application Suite version 3 software at the Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida (USA). e images were taken by placing the specimen in a transparent Petri dish filled with ethanol gel (Purell hand sanitizer) in order to keep the specimen at an appropriate angle

Summary

Introduction

Termitoidae is a monophyletic lineage consisting of more than 2 900 validly named species [7, 8], belonging to 281 genera and nine families. Six of these families, namely, Kalotermitidae, Archotermopsidae, Hodotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Stylotermitidae, and Termitidae, are known from the Oriental region [9], and three families, namely, Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Termitidae, have been recorded in the Indo-Malayan subregion. E genus Termes was classified by Holmgren [13] and consists of a total of 24 validly named species, of which most are known from the Ethiopian, Neotropical, and e Scientific World Journal. Holmgren [13] and other authors [18, 19] have mentioned that T. propinquus has been poorly differentiated from the other congeners, especially T. rostratus [12]

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion