Genus Apagotermes · 疲白蚁属

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 small size separates it from many genera, including Amicotermes, which is similar in the surface of the worker enteric valve. The alate resembles Astratotermes obstructus, but the latter has a slightly longer postclypeus, wider meso- and metanotal plates, and ocelli closer to the compound eye.

Worker

Very small, W 0.58 mm. Fore tibia moderately inflated, Ti/Tw 3.84, with 3 apical spurs, the third about half as long as the other two. Apical tooth of the mandible short, La/Li 0.52, Ra/Ri 0.67; the proximal end of the subsidiary tooth of the left mandible is level with the edge of the molar prominence; the tip of the first marginal tooth of the right mandible lies distinctly behind the line joining the apical tooth and the second marginal tooth, and its anterior margin is shorter than that of the second. Midgut and hindgut are almost transverse, lying to the right of the Malpighian knot. Enteric valve seat weakly trilobed, the two outer lobes tending to oppose each other but not longer than the third lobe, joined by a distinct and very short neck to the second hindgut pouch; in the undissected abdomen it lies dorsally. Enteric valve cushions project equally through the valve opening, each bearing regularly arranged long spines on its posterior third, the spines below the outermost row slightly spatulate or sword-shaped, the first and third (alternating) cushions bearing slightly fewer spines, the remaining surface with small spines or spinules.

Alate

Small, W 0.74 mm. Fore tibia with 3 apical spurs, the third almost as large as the other two. Apical tooth of the mandible short, La/Li 0.55, Ra/Ri 0.67–0.71; the proximal end of the subsidiary tooth of the left mandible has just left the molar prominence; the tips of the apical and marginal teeth of the right mandible are almost in line, the anterior margin of the first marginal tooth being shorter than that of the second, which is curved. Meso- and metanotal plates narrow at the constriction, M/W 0.21, transverse sutures present, the mesonotal one weak. Ocelli close to the compound eye.

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. 155–156 This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.