Genus Epicalotermes · 上木白蚁属

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

Placed in the Procryptotermes–Cryptotermes branch on mandibular characters; it differs from Kalotermes in the anterior margin of the third marginal tooth of the left mandible being longer than the posterior margin of the first and second marginal teeth, the larger body and much smaller eyes, the media and cubitus of the forewing having a common stalk, and the arolium being absent; the soldier has a larger, dorsoventrally flattened head, pigmented eyes, and long, strong mandibles that are strongly curved near the apex.

Alate

Yellowish brown; eye diameter 0.35–0.55 mm, ocelli always touching the compound eyes; antennae 14–19-segmented; anterior margin of the third marginal tooth of the left mandible more than 1.5 times the length of the posterior margin of the first and second marginal teeth, the bases of the first and second marginal teeth shorter than the third marginal tooth; molar plate of the right mandible shorter than the posterior margin of the second marginal tooth; pronotum slightly narrower than the head or nearly as wide, anterior margin concave; wings transparent, covered with transparent papillae; media and cubitus with a common stalk beyond the wing suture; arolium absent.

Soldier

Head long and wide, dorsoventrally flattened, the sides converging anteriorly; genal region concave below the antennal socket; anterior part of the frons gently sloping, beginning about at the middle of the head, concave in the middle; dorsal margin of the antennal socket distinctly raised, appearing as a small tube dorsally; eyes large and pigmented; labrum subrectangular, wider than long, anterior margin convex with a small median projection; antennae 10–13-segmented, the third segment dark, club-shaped and longest; mandibles long and strong, strongly curved towards the apex from near the basal tubercle; pronotum as wide as the head or slightly narrower, transversely arched and subrectangular, anterior margin slightly raised with a deep angular concavity, sides relatively straight; femora not inflated.

Sources: Krishna K. 1961. A generic revision and phylogenetic study of the family Kalotermitidae (Isoptera). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 122: 303–408., pp. 374–376 This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.