Genus Aciculitermes · 针白蚁属
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Distribution map
About the genus
This genus belongs to the family Termitidae 白蚁科, in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae 象白蚁亚科; the site records 2 species.
Type species: Aciculitermes aciculatus.
This page includes a distribution map for the genus (GBIF records aggregated on a 1° grid); open a species entry to see its type locality, distribution, and references.
Etymology
From Latin acicula (little pin) + termes.
The etymologies in this section are analytical breakdowns; the roots follow Brown (1956).
Morphology
The descriptions below are an adaptation of the original genus-level accounts; terms follow the meaning of the source, and the original is not transcribed verbatim.
Diagnostic characters
The complete absence of apical points on the soldier mandibles is the primary diagnostic character used by Emerson in 1960 when establishing the genus; the lateral outline of the head from the tip of the nasus to the vertex is almost straight or slightly concave, with only a slight swelling at the base of the nasus; the head is relatively broader than in Subulitermes microsoma. The left mandible index of the worker is 0.73, intermediate between Leucopitermes (0.56) and Subulitermes (1.33).
Soldier
Head and frontal projection densely covered with very short microsetae, with a few additional setae on the vertex and at the base of the nasus; head relatively broader than in Subulitermes microsoma; lateral outline of the head from the tip of the nasus to the vertex almost straight or slightly concave, with only a slight swelling at the base of the nasus; mandibles without apical points.
Worker
Left mandible index 0.73; the apical teeth of both mandibles relatively larger than in Leucopitermes; no notch behind the first marginal tooth of the left mandible; the third marginal tooth of the left mandible rather narrow.
Sources: Emerson, A. E. 1960. New genera of termites related to Subulitermes from the Oriental, Malagasy, and Australian regions (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). American Museum Novitates 1986: 1-28., pp. 11-12 This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.
Species (2)
Parent level: Checklist index · Nasutitermitinae 象白蚁亚科 · Data & downloads