Caputitermes dimorphus Almeida-Azevedo, Acioli, Morais & Azevedo, 2023 二型首白蚁

Morphology

The description below is paraphrased from the original or a later revision, by caste; the source is cited at the end.

Diagnostic characters

The primary genus character is the dimorphic worker (major worker and minor worker); the junction between the midgut and the first proctodeal segment (P1) is straight, without a mixed segment; the molar plate and molar prominence region bear hairs and scale-like sculpture; the gizzard is not developed; the inner wall of P1 is densely covered with short, stout spines directed towards the enteric valve; P3 forms an S-shaped bend before joining P2. No Neotropical Apicotermitinae have soldiers.

Worker

Dimorphic, the major and minor workers in a ratio of about 1:2, both forms common. Both have a visible fontanelle, a slightly inflated postclypeus and a head covered with fine short setae; the mandibles bear hairs and scale-like sculpture on the molar plate and molar prominence region, with a shallow concavity on the anterior side of the mandible; the apical tooth of the left mandible is as large as marginal teeth 1 and 2 combined, and the apical tooth of the right mandible is larger than marginal teeth 1 and 2 combined. Major worker: head capsule square, with about 34 setae, mainly distributed on the anterolateral and posterior regions, the head with lateral nodes; minor worker: head capsule round, with about 14 setae evenly distributed on the sides of the head. The gut is spherical in both forms, and the structures are similar in size and position. Gizzard without cuticular armature, with 6 primary pulvilli, the pulvilli scaly on the surface and with minute spines posteriorly; enteric valve with a thin muscle layer and 6 symmetrical cushions; Malpighian tubules with 4 separate insertions, without a nodule; the short stout spines of the P1 inner wall are densest near the midgut and near P2, with the spine tips directed towards the enteric valve; P3 forms an S-shaped bend before joining P2. Measurements: species-level (LH, WH, LT, WP, see the species description).

This genus is monotypic, containing only this species; the following is the genus-level description based on the original literature; species-level measurements and intraspecific variation are given in the original.