Genus Incisitermes · 楹白蚁属

Fauna Sinica account

The account below is a reorganized and rewritten adaptation of the genus-level description in Fauna Sinica, Insecta Vol. 17, Isoptera (2000) (generic description in the original book's section on Incisitermes, reorganised and rewritten); the source keys and measurement tables are not reproduced here.

Morphology

Key characters

Soldier head capsule flattened, rectangular, the two sides parallel, the frontal slope very small; antennae with ten to seventeen segments, the third longest and club-shaped; pronotum as wide as or slightly wider than the head, its anterior margin deeply concave, tibial spur formula 3:3:3.

Soldier

Soldier head flattened, rectangular, the two lateral margins parallel to each other, the frontal surface sloping very gently. Mandibles stout. Antennae with ten to seventeen segments, the third longest, club-shaped and heavily sclerotised. Pronotum as wide as or slightly wider than the head capsule, its anterior margin deeply concave. Femora stout, tibial spur formula 3:3:3.

Alate

Alate body colour mostly pale brown, some species dark brown. Compound eyes round and large, ocelli close against the compound eyes, the two almost touching. Antennae with thirteen to twenty segments. Left and right mandibles each with two marginal teeth. Pronotum usually slightly wider than the head, or as wide as the head. Wing membrane transparent, without nodular structures, tibial spur formula 3:3:3, most species with an arolium between the claws.

Biology and economic significance

Incisitermes colonies are small and simply built, tolerate drought and are readily spread by human transport, so they deserve attention in quarantine. Incisitermes minor was introduced into China in the late 1940s and formerly damaged large buildings in Nanjing, Shanghai, Ningbo and elsewhere; after control the Nanjing population has not been seen for many years.

Distribution

Nearctic, Neotropical and Oriental Regions; in China only Incisitermes minor is known, introduced from abroad.

Summary

Incisitermes soldiers have a flattened rectangular head with parallel sides and a gentle frontal slope, stout mandibles, and antennae of ten to seventeen segments whose third is the longest and club-shaped. The pronotum equals or slightly exceeds the head in width and is deeply notched in front; tibial spurs are three to three to three. Alates are usually pale brown with large eyes, ocelli almost touching them, and thirteen to twenty antennal segments; the wings are clear and lack nodules.

Sources cited: Huang Fusheng, Zhu Shimo, Ping Zhengming, Wang Zhiguo, Li Can and Xu Chungui, 2000. Fauna Sinica, Insecta Vol. 17, Isoptera. Beijing: Science Press. This text is a reorganized adaptation, not a verbatim transcription.