Towards a revision of the Neotropical soldierless termites (Isoptera: Termitidae): redescription of the genusGrigiotermes Mathews and description of five new genera

Abstract

Soldierless termites are extremely abundant in South America where they account for up to one-third of the termite species richness. However, their diversity has mostly been addressed through scattered, indecisive descriptions, leaving large gaps in our understanding of termite diversity. Here, to progress towards a more complete knowledge of this group, we redescribe the genus Grigiotermes and describe five new genera, Amplucrutermes, Humutermes, Hydrecotermes, Patawatermes, and Rubeotermes, comprising a total of nine species. We reassign four species to new genera, synonymize two species, and provide extensive descriptions and diagnoses for all taxa included here. We also provide a molecular phylogeny of selected Neotropical and Old World Apicotermitinae and provide a key to the genera of Neotropical workers to facilitate identification. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London