Genus Sinocapritermes · 华扭白蚁属

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) (the genus-level account of Sinocapritermes in the original book, reorganised and rewritten); the source keys and measurement tables are not reproduced here.

Morphology

Key characters

Soldier head rectangular and without a frontal ridge, the middle of the left mandible twisted, its apex hooked and swollen behind the hook, the right mandible knife-like; labrum narrow and long, its anterior margin concave; antennae 14-segmented, tibial spur formula 2:2:2; the frontal gland pore of the alate small and narrow.

Soldier

The hairs on the soldier head capsule are of medium density to fairly dense; the head is rectangular and the frons without a ridge. Mandibles asymmetrical: the middle of the left mandible is moderately twisted, the apex curved into a hook, swollen behind the hook; the right mandible is sword-like, slightly curved at the apex. Antennae 14-segmented. Labrum long and narrow, its anterior margin concave, the anterolateral corners slightly projecting outwards. Tibial spur formula 2:2:2.

Alate

Alate head capsule rather densely hairy, the frontal gland pore small, narrow and long, oval. Postclypeus less than half as long as wide, with a median suture at the centre. The distance between the apical tooth and the first marginal tooth of the right mandible is slightly greater than that between the first and second marginal teeth. Antennae 15-segmented, tibial spur formula likewise 2:2:2.

Biology and economic significance

Species of the genus generally nest underground or live in fallen logs and tree holes; their food includes humus, grass roots and decayed wood, and they are a common kind of termite in subtropical woodlands. Thirteen species are known in the genus, mostly distributed in warm, humid low hills.

Distribution

Oriental region of southern China; the known records are concentrated in Guangxi, Yunnan, Hainan, Guangdong, Sichuan and other provinces and regions, extending northwards along the coasts of Fujian and Zhejiang, with the Tianmu Mountains as its northern limit.

Summary

Sinocapritermes soldiers have a rectangular head without frontal ridges and moderately dense pilosity. The mandibles are asymmetric, the left moderately twisted with a hooked, basally swollen apex, the right sabre-like and slightly hooked. The labrum is long and narrow with a concave front margin, antennae are 14-segmented, and the tibial spur formula is 2:2:2. Alates have a small oval frontal gland opening and 15-segmented antennae. The genus is restricted to southern China.

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.