Revision of the termite family Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) in New Guinea

Authors: Bourguignon, Thomas DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.148.1826 Published: Jan. 1, 2011 Source: ZooKeys OpenAlex: View in OpenAlex

Collection: Pensoft Publishers

Keywords: termites · Topics: Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior, Plant and animal studies, Animal Behavior and Reproduction

Recently, we completed a revision of the Termitidae from New Guinea and neighboring islands, recording a total of 45 species. Here, we revise a second family, the Rhinotermitidae, to progress towards a full picture of the termite diversity in New Guinea. Altogether, 6 genera and 15 species are recorded, among which two species, Coptotermes gambrinus and Parrhinotermes barbatus, are new to science. The genus Heterotermes is reported from New Guinea for the first time, with two species restricted to the southern part of the island. We also provide the first New Guinea records for six species of the genera Coptotermes and Schedorhinotermes. We briefly describe soldiers and imagoes of each species and provide a key based on soldier characters. Finally, we discuss the taxonomic and biogeographical implication of our results. A replacement name, Schedolimulus minutides Bourguignon, is proposed for the termitophilous staphylinid Schedolimulus minutus Bourguignon, to solve a question of secondary homonymy.

Time period:

View raw JSON from API

Found an error? Please report to login@optimap.science.