Cryptotermes pugnus (Blattodea, Isoptera, Kalotermitidae), a new drywood termite species from the Brazilian Caatinga dry forest and key to South American Cryptotermes Banks, 1909

By

Scheffrahn, Rudolf
Vasconcellos, Alexandre

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1182

Pages

11--18

Subjects

Arolium , Bahia , imago , Paraíba , soldier , South America , venation

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1182.108243

 

Abstract

A new termite species, Cryptotermes pugnussp. nov., is described from northeastern Brazil. The winged imago of C. pugnus is distinguished from most congeners by the lack of arolia and the multiple branches connecting the median vein to the radial sector. The soldier is unique among South American Cryptotermes by its cuboidal head capsule and very rugose postclypeus. The new species constitutes the fourteenth Cryptotermes species on the continent for which we provide a key to soldiers.