Genus Protermes · 前白蚁属

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

Holmgren 1912 divided the genus into the two subgenera Allodontermes and Protermes s. str., 3 species being known at the time, all from Africa. Alate antennae 19 segments; soldier antennae 14–17 segments; worker antennae 16–17 segments. Worker compound eyes either reduced or very distinct and even pigmented; pronotum very small, less than half the head width, anterior lobe upturned. The apex of the labrum and the tooth-like expansion at the apex of the left mandible differ between the two subgenera (shown in figs 7 and 8 of the original).

Alate

This paragraph is headed Allodontermes in the original and reads as follows. Head broadly oval. Compound eyes large, strongly projecting. Ocelli broadly oval, lateral, very close to the compound eyes; spiral in dorsal view, frons flat and depressed. Frontal gland opening small, bright. Base of clypeus bright, rather strongly arched, at least as long as half its width, posterior margin strongly convexly curved, anterior margin straight, the sides reaching the mandibular bases; apex relatively well developed. Labrum longer than broad, narrowing slightly anteriorly, with a narrow transverse chitinous band in the middle. Left mandible with typical Termes-type dentition; right mandible deviating from the Termes type, with a much reduced second tooth, transitional from the Leucotermes type to the Termes type. Antennae 19 segments, third segment shorter than the second and fourth, fourth slightly shorter than the second. Pronotum about as long as half its width, slightly narrower than the head with the mandibles, flat; meso- and metanotum broadly incised. Forewing scale distinctly larger than the hindwing scale, but not reaching the base of the latter. Radius rather weak, soon merging with the anterior wing margin; radial sector reaching the wing apex; media of forewing separate from the wing scale, media of hindwing departing from the base of the radial sector, the media of both wings close to the cubitus and more or less branched towards the apex. Cubitus many-branched, wing membrane hyaline, slightly reticulate. Fore tibia with 3 apical spurs. Cerci short; male with a stylus, female with exudatory hairs.

Soldier

Sides of the head parallel, both ends very weakly narrowing, flattened and arched. Frontal gland opening very indistinct, frontal gland small. Clypeus relatively short, projecting slightly anteriorly, mandibular bases very stout. Labrum in the Allodontermes form (fig. 7) longer, apex sharp and hyaline, in the Protermes form (fig. 8) relatively short, apex rounded. Apex of the left mandible with a tooth-like expansion at its base, with or without a very small tooth tubercle; left mandible with 3 more or less distinct teeth; right mandible with a large tooth before the middle, sometimes with a reduced tooth between this tooth and the apex. Antennae 14–17 segments, second segment longer than the third. Postmentum with parallel sides.

Worker

Head relatively large, parallel-sided oval, flattened and arched. Frontal gland opening indistinct, head sutures not visible. Base of clypeus rather arched, transversely oval, rather large, not quite reaching the mandibular bases. Compound eyes either reduced or very distinct and even pigmented; mandibular bases very large, right mandible with traces of a second tooth. Antennae 16–17 segments, second segment longer than the third, third segment equal to or slightly longer than the fourth. Pronotum small, less than half the head width, with an upturned anterior lobe. At least the fore and mid tibiae with lateral spines, fore tibia with 3 apical spurs. Styli present.

Sources: Holmgren, N. 1912. Termitenstudien 3. Systematik der Termiten. Die Familien Mastotermitidae, Protermitidae und Mesotermitidae. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar 48(4): 1–166, Taf. 1–4., pp. 24—26（archive.org 项 biostor-184513 页面图像） This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.