Scheffrahnitermes ubuntu Mellado et al., 2026 乌班图谢弗拉恩白蚁

Morphology

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

Diagnostic characters

Monotypic genus (Scheffrahnitermes ubuntu), without soldiers (Apicotermitinae). The enteric valve seating (EVS) is unique: internally with two unequal sclerotised spiny plates (the spines directed towards P3), spines also present between the plates; externally forming a small pouch at the P1–P3 junction (the larger plate fitting precisely into the pouch); the body colour of the worker turns red after preservation in alcohol. Distinguished from Grigiotermes, Dissimulitermes and Humutermes: in the latter three the sclerotised plates lie within the enteric valve (EV), one in 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, in this genus only one; it shares the ‘turning red in alcohol’ character with Rubeotermes and Tonsuritermes, but body shape, gut coiling and mixed segment differ, 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 conspicuous, subcircular, the medium-sized spot distinct; compound eyes circular, ocelli elliptical, the distance between the ocellus and the compound eye less than its diameter. Left mandible with the 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 with the apical tooth subequal to M1, M2 triangular with a sharp edge. Head capsule rounded dorsally, densely covered with short hairs and short, medium and long setae; deep 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 and slightly brownish; forewing and hindwing with short marginal cilia (except on the basal third of the posterior margin).

Worker

Monotypic. Head capsule and thorax change from pale yellow to deep red/brown after preservation in alcohol. Sides of the head slightly convex, dorsally rounded, with scattered setae and short to medium hairs. Postclypeus inflated, often with a pair of setae at the apex. Fontanelle large and conspicuous. Antennae 12–14-segmented (formula 2>3=4<5), pale at the base and becoming progressively darker towards the apex. Left mandible with the apical tooth equal in size to M1+2, M3 triangular with a sharp edge, a gap between M3 and the premolar prominence; right mandible with the apical tooth subequal 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 anterior end of the midgut; a small white spherical nodule on the ventral side at the junction of the mixed segment and P1; P1 of uniform width, widened and folded, forming a mirrored C shape ventrally; enteric valve (EV) with six columnar pads, each pad with a short spine at its base and covered with small scales (the central ones sub-trapezoidal, the marginal ones subrectangular), the small spines on the scale margins directed towards P3; enteric valve seating (EVS) short, forming a small pouch, internally with two asymmetrical sclerotised plates, the spines directed towards P3, spines also present between the plates, the larger plate aligned with the pouch; P3 connected to P4 by an isthmus on the left side of the body; P4 turning in a U-shape after the mixed segment, its end entering the inflated P5 dorsally. 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).

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.