Genus Alyscotermes · 逃白蚁属

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 row of spines on the worker enteric valve inner cushion forms the most conspicuous diagnostic feature of this genus: the spines at positions 3 and 4 are prominent and project through the valve opening, and are usually visible on alcohol-preserved specimens at about 100× magnification. Only Amalotermes has similar spines on the enteric valve, but its worker has a small, brown head and the spines are almost radially symmetrical.

Worker

Medium-sized to very large, W 0.81–1.11 mm. Fore tibia slender, Ti/Tw 5.28–7.36, with 3 apical spurs, the third usually well developed, sometimes reduced but never vestigial. Mandibular apical teeth short, La/Li 0.50–0.67, Ra/Ri 0.66–0.87; left mandible accessory marginal tooth separated from the molar prominence by a deep notch; right mandible apical and marginal teeth in a line, the marginal tooth anterior margins nearly equal or the 1st slightly longer. Midgut and hindgut joined obliquely, to the right of the Malpighian tubule knot. Enteric valve seat distinctly bilobed, sometimes with a very weak third lobe, connected by a distinct neck to the second hindgut pouch, dorsally situated in the unopened abdomen; enteric valve inner cushion unequally developed, positions 1 and 2 retracted, positions 3 and 4 slightly longer and protruding through the valve opening, all spinose, the spines of the middle 1/3 minute, those of the distal 1/3 small to prominent and projecting through the valve opening, especially at positions 3 and 4.

Alate

Medium-sized to large, W 0.90–1.35 mm. Fore tibia with 3 apical spurs, the third only slightly smaller than the other two. Mandibular apical teeth rather short, La/Li 0.49–0.66, Ra/Ri 0.67–0.99; left mandible accessory marginal tooth clearly removed from the molar prominence; right mandible apical and marginal tooth apices nearly in a line, the 1st marginal tooth anterior margin distinctly longer than the 2nd. Meso- and metanotal plates moderately to distinctly broad at the constriction, M/W 0.28–0.37, transverse suture present, usually distinct.

Sources: Sands W. A. 1972. The soldierless termites of Africa (Isoptera: Termitidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Entomology Supplement 18: 1–244. doi 10.5962/p.192782., pp. 125–127 This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.