Genus Rinacapritermes · 丽娜扭白蚁属

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

Soldier antennae 15-segmented (14-segmented in Indocapritermes); anterior margin of the labrum nearly straight, with broad-based, stout and long anterolateral processes (labral lateral processes narrow-based, short and slender in the latter). Left mandible slightly longer and more slender relative to head length, its tip not broadly rounded (shorter and stouter in the latter, with a broadly rounded tip); right mandible with a sharp, upwardly directed apical blade (less sharp and nearly straight in the latter). Anterior lobe of the pronotum slightly raised, its anterior margin strongly convex and without a notch (anterior lobe not raised in the latter, anterior margin slightly convex to nearly straight, with a weak median notch); posterior margin nearly straight, not concave (slightly convex in the latter, with a slightly concave end). Worker antennae 14–15-segmented (13–14-segmented in the latter); ventral surface of the left molar plate with a small dentate projection (absent in the latter). The gut lacks Malpighian tubule nodules and P1 is short and tubular, consistent with the Pericapritermes group, hence its placement in that group (although its soldier antennae are 15-segmented rather than the 14-segmented condition usual in the group).

Soldier

Monotypic, small. Head capsule nearly rectangular and broad in dorsal view, the anterolateral corners rounded, without tubercles; frontal surface steeply inclined in lateral view; fontanelle transverse; frontal gland large, the middle arm of the Y-shaped suture distinct only posteriorly. Antennae 15-segmented. Labrum not inflated, asymmetrical, anterior margin nearly straight, with broad-based, stout and long anterolateral processes (spine-like processes). Mandibles asymmetrical and stout: left mandible strongly twisted medially, its tip blunt, without a hook, not beak-like, the basal process sharp; right mandible blade-like, its tip sharp and directed upwards, the middle of the inner margin incurved, the basal half with a deep notch. Postmentum rod-shaped, more than half the head length, narrowed posteriorly into a waist. Pronotum saddle-shaped: anterior lobe raised and smaller than the posterior lobe, anterior margin convex, posterior margin nearly straight, neither margin notched. Mesonotum and metanotum narrower than the pronotum. Tibial spur formula 3:2:2 (dorsal spur of the protibia sometimes indistinct), tarsi 4-segmented. Abdomen elongate, cerci short, 2-segmented.

Worker

Monotypic; head capsule nearly circular in dorsal view, widest at the antennal bases; fontanellar plate translucent, circular; antennae 14–15-segmented; postclypeus inflated. Apical tooth of the left mandible slightly larger than the first marginal tooth, the posterior margin of the apical tooth concave; second marginal tooth indistinct, third marginal tooth reduced or merely a tooth scar, not separated from the first marginal tooth by a notch; ventral surface of the left molar plate with a small dentate projection; molar plate large, extending to the first marginal tooth. Apical tooth of the right mandible finger-like, larger than the first marginal tooth; posterior margin of the first marginal tooth slightly longer than its anterior margin; second marginal tooth short, its posterior margin incurved; molar plate longer than the posterior margin of the second marginal tooth, without ridges; cockroach notch present. Gut: crop spherical, of large volume; mixed segment present, the two pairs of Malpighian tubules arising together at its base, without Malpighian tubule nodules; P1 short, tubular; enteric valve armature thin, composed of 6 sharply triangular pads, each pad with small spine-like projections distributed over its median longitudinal area, the cuticle between the pads with similar but larger and more widely spaced projections.

Sources: Amina P., Rajmohana K., Dinesh K.P. & Asha G. 2022. Integrative taxonomic studies on Rinacapritermes Amina & Rajmohana, n. gen. (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae) with two new species from India. Zoosystema 44(3): 109–124. https://doi.org/10.5252/zoosystema2022v44a3, pp. 111–112（Morphological diagnosis / Description / Remarks） This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.