Genus Rhynchotermes · 喙白蚁属

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

Established by Holmgren 1912 as a subgenus of Armitermes (Rhynchotermes n. subg.), at that time containing only the species nasutissimus (Mato Grosso, Paraguay, Bolivia). The differences from the other subgenera of the genus are given in the key: in the alate mandibular tooth 1 and tooth 2 are equal in size, the antennae have 14 segments and segment 3 is longer than the adjacent ones; in the soldier the mandibles are fairly robust and very strongly curved, with a quadrangular tooth in the middle, a very well-developed base bearing a sharp molar prominence, the 'nasus' (frontal tube) very long, and each fore coxa with a tooth-like projection; in the worker mandibular tooth 1 and tooth 2 are equal in length.

Alate

Mandibular tooth 1 and tooth 2 equal in size; antennae of 14 segments, segment 3 longer than the adjacent ones.

Soldier

Mandibles fairly robust, very strongly curved, with a quadrangular tooth in the middle; the base very strongly developed, with a sharp molar prominence. The 'nasus' (frontal tube) very long. Each fore coxa with a tooth-like projection.

Worker

Mandibular tooth 1 and tooth 2 equal in length. The original gives only this single key character for the worker of the subgenus, without further description.

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., p. 55（archive.org 项 biostor-184513 页面图像） This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.