Cryptotermes (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae) on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu: Redescription of 
                    Cryptotermes albipes (Holmgren & Holmgren) and description of 
                    Cryptotermes penaoru sp. n.

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Abstract

Complete series of two species of the phragmotic drywood termite genus, Cryptotermes ( Isoptera: Kalotermitidae), were found on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. Here, I describe for the first time the soldier of Cryptotermes albipes (Holmgren & Holmgren), which resembles Cryptotermes domesticus but presents deep depressions on the head sides and vertex. The other species, here described as Cryptotermes penaoru sp. n., comes close to Cryptotermes tropicalis , a species known from the tropical rainforest of northern Queensland, from which its soldier is distinguished by its more elongated head capsule.

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Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest.

Alain Dejean, Bruno Corbara, M Samaniego … (2006)

The importance of termites as decomposers in tropical forests has long been recognized. Studies on the richness and diversity of termite species and their ecological function have flourished in more recent times, but these have been mostly conducted in a thin stratum within a standing man's reach. Our aims were to evaluate the specific richness and composition of the termite assemblage in the canopy of a tropical rainforest and to determine its originality with respect to the sympatric ground-level fauna. We conducted systematic searches for canopy termites, together with conventional sampling of the sympatric ground-level fauna, in the San Lorenzo forest, Panama. We hypothesized that (1) the canopy accommodates two categories of wood-feeding termites (long-distance foragers and small-colony "one-piece" species) and possibly soil-feeders in suspended soil-like habitats; (2) due to the abundance of soil-feeders, the overall diversity of the ground fauna is higher than that of the canopy; (3) differences in microclimate and resource accessibility favour vertical stratification among wood-feeders. Sixty-three canopy samples yielded ten species of termites, all wood-feeders. Five of these were not found at ground level, although a total of 243 ground samples were collected, representing 29 species. In addition to long-distance foragers (Microcerotermes and Nasutitermes spp.) and small-colony termites (mostly Kalotermitidae), the canopy fauna included Termes hispaniolae, a wood-feeding Termitidae from an allegedly soil-feeding genus, living in large dead branches. Soil-feeders were absent from the canopy, probably because large epiphytes were scarce. As predicted, the ground fauna was much richer than that of the canopy, but the species richness of both habitats was similar when only wood-feeders were considered. Vertical stratification was strongly marked among wood-feeders, as all common species, apart from the arboreal-nesting Microcerotermes arboreus, could unequivocally be assigned to either a ground or a canopy group. The canopy, therefore, contributes significantly to the total species richness of the termite assemblage, and the diversity, abundance and ecological importance of canopy termites in tropical rainforests may be higher than previously recognized.

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Phylogenetic analysis and trait evolution in Australian lineages of drywood termites (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae).

Sarah R Crozier, M Lenz, Mitchell G. Thompson … (2000)

A phylogenetic analysis of Australian drywood termites (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae) based on partial sequence from the cytochrome oxidase II (COII) and cytochrome b genes is presented. In addition to providing new information on the evolutionary relationships among 25 species from seven genera, we evaluate the relative likelihoods of alternative topological hypotheses, including those derived from morphology-based classifications. We also test the applicability of a molecular clock for estimating the age of the Kalotermitidae and infer the evolution of species-specific variation for habitat type and soldier caste phragmosis by mapping this information onto the independently derived phylogeny. Maximum-likelihood analysis of both nucleotide and protein sequences from a multigene data set jointly support a single topology, which is shown to be the best estimate of the true phylogeny among the alternatives tested. Our results support the monophyly of all genera but question the discrimination between Procryptotermes and Cryptotermes. A basal dichotomy among generic groups suggests two principle lines of divergence within the family. Intergeneric relationships show mixed congruence to previous proposals, resulting in one morphology-based classification being rejected. A molecular clock hypothesis is not supported due to significant among-lineage rate heterogeneity in the COII gene. Patterns revealed through trait mapping suggest that the most recently diverged taxa tend to occupy the driest habitats and that these same taxa reflect a defensive transition away from large mandibulate soldiers toward small phragmotic soldiers. The association between habitat and defensibility supports the hypothesis that these two characters have been tightly linked throughout the social diversification of termites. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.

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The genusCryptotermesin Australia (Isoptera : Kalotermitidae)

FJ Gay, JAL Watson (1982)

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: URI : urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:73DD15F4-6D52-43CD-8E1A-08AB8DDB15FC

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Zookeys

Journal ID (publisher-id): ZooKeys

Title: ZooKeys

Publisher: Pensoft Publishers

ISSN (Print): 1313-2989

ISSN (Electronic): 1313-2970

Publication date Collection: 2011

Publication date (Electronic): 21 November 2011

Issue: 148

Pages: 31-40

Affiliations

[1 ]Evolutionary Biology & Ecology, CP 160/12, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium

Author notes

Corresponding author: Yves Roisin ( yroisin@ 123456ulb.ac.be )

Academic editor: Michael Engel

Article

DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.148.1718

PMC ID: 3264405

PubMed ID: 22287889

SO-VID: f7cf9af8-3233-4748-a1a9-70357ea34842

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This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Cryptotermes (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae) on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu: Redescription of Cryptotermes albipes (Holmgren & Holmgren) and description of Cryptotermes penaoru sp. n.

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Most cited references 5

Vertical stratification of the termite assemblage in a neotropical rainforest.

Phylogenetic analysis and trait evolution in Australian lineages of drywood termites (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae).

The genusCryptotermesin Australia (Isoptera : Kalotermitidae)

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