Genus Scheffrahnitermes · 谢弗拉恩白蚁属

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

Monotypic genus (Scheffrahnitermes ubuntu), without soldiers (subfamily Apicotermitinae). The enteric valve seating (EVS) is unique: internally it bears two sclerotised spiny plates of unequal size (spines directed towards P3), with spines also between the plates, while externally it forms a small pouch at the P1–P3 junction (the larger plate is inserted into the pouch); workers turn red after preservation in alcohol. Distinguished from Grigiotermes, Dissimulitermes and Humutermes: in the latter three the sclerotised plates lie within the enteric valve (EV) and there is one per each of the six valves, whereas in this genus they lie within the enteric valve seating; distinguished from the closely related species of Ruptitermes: in the latter the enteric valve seating forms three small pouches, whereas this genus has only one; it shares with Rubeotermes and Tonsuritermes the 'turning red in alcohol', but differs in body shape, gut coiling and mixed segment, and this genus lacks spines on the fore tibia/fore coxa (Tonsuritermes has spines on the fore tibia, Rubeotermes on the fore coxa).

Alate

Female larger than male. Fontanelle prominent, subcircular, medium-sized spot distinct; compound eyes circular, ocelli oval, the distance to the compound eye less than its diameter. Left mandible apical tooth equal in size to M1+2, M3 triangular with a sharp edge, a gap between M3 and the distinct premolar prominence; right mandible apical tooth nearly equal to M1, M2 triangular with a sharp edge. Head capsule circular in dorsal view, densely covered with short hairs and short, medium and long setae; dark brown, paler around the antennae. Antennae 15-segmented (formula 2>3<4=5). Postclypeus slightly inflated, slightly paler than the head capsule, median suture distinct. Labrum covered with short hairs and setae. Pronotum sub-trapezoidal, shorter than the head, anterior margin straight with a median incision, median suture distinct, densely covered with hairs of different sizes and setae. Fore tibia long and slender, not inflated, with a few short stout setae on the inner surface. Wings three times the length of the abdomen; veins brown, membrane transparent, slightly brownish; forewing and hindwing with short marginal hairs (except on the basal third of the posterior margin).

Worker

Monotypic. Head capsule and thorax turning from pale yellow to deep red/brown after preservation in alcohol. Head slightly convex in lateral view, circular in dorsal view, scattered with setae and short and medium hairs. Postclypeus inflated, often with a pair of setae at the top. Fontanelle large and prominent. Antennae 12–14-segmented (formula 2>3=4<5), pale at the base and gradually darker towards the apex. Left mandible apical tooth equal in size to M1+2, M3 triangular with a sharp edge, a gap between M3 and the premolar prominence; right mandible apical tooth nearly equal to M1, M2 triangular with a sharp edge. Anterior lobe and posterior margin of the pronotum with long setae and short hairs. Fore tibia moderately inflated, with short hairs and 5–6 long stout setae. Crop spherical, inflated when full; cardiac valve long, inserted at the apex of the midgut; a small white spherical nodule on the ventral surface at the junction of the mixed segment and P1; P1 of uniform width, widened and folded, appearing as a mirror-image C in ventral view; enteric valve (EV) with six columnar pads, each pad with a short spine at its base, covered with small scales (sub-trapezoidal in the centre, sub-rectangular at the edges), the small spines at the scale edges directed towards P3; enteric valve seating (EVS) short, forming a small pouch, with two asymmetrical sclerotised plates inside, spines directed towards P3, spines also between the plates, the larger plate aligned with the pouch; P3 connected to P4 by a narrow isthmus on the left side of the body; P4 making a U-shaped turn after the mixed segment, entering the inflated P5 dorsally at its end. Measurements (mm, n=30, six nests): head width 0.63–0.73 (0.68), head length 0.78–0.90 (0.83), fore tibia width 0.09–0.13 (0.11), fore tibia length 0.36–0.49 (0.45), tibial index 0.74–0.87 (0.82).

Sources: Mellado, C. C.; Messina, G. G.; Carvalho, A.; Oliveira, D. E.; Almeida-Azevedo, R.; Almeida de Azevedo, R.; Cunha, H. F.; Lucena, E. F.; Constantini, J. P.; Pinzón-Florián, O. P.; Carrijo, T. F. 2026. Scheffrahnitermes ubuntu (Isoptera: Apicotermitinae), Description of a New Termite Using a Collaborative Approach to Address the Wallacean Shortfall. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 53: e70025., pp. 2–5 This text is an adaptation, not a verbatim transcription of the original.