Labiocapritermes microcephalus Amina & Rajmohana, 2025 小头唇扭白蚁

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1. Labiocapritermes Krishna 1968

   Aiswarya Pulikkal Muralidharan, Poovoli Amina, Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar · 2026 ·

   Resumen

   Genus Labiocapritermes Krishna, 1968 Type species: Capritermes distortus Silvestri, 1922 Distribution in India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Fig. 9). Remarks: The genus Labiocapritermes was previously classified under the subfamily Termitinae. Recently Hellemans et al. (2024) reclassified it into the subfamily Mirocapritermitinae which was resurrected by authors after being originally proposed by Kemner in 1934. Soldiers can be distinguished from other genera within the subfamily by the absence of frontal projection, hook at the tips of mandibles, by the presence of a strong twist in the middle of left mandible, and a large, swollen, asymmetrical labrum. The addition of a new species to the genus Labiocapritermes changes its status as monotypic genus, prompting revaluation of its characters.

2. Labiocapritermes ghatensis Aiswarya and Sudhikumar 2026, sp. nov.

   Aiswarya Pulikkal Muralidharan, Poovoli Amina, Ambalaparambil Vasu Sudhikumar · 2026 ·

   Resumen

   Labiocapritermes ghatensis Aiswarya and Sudhikumar sp. nov. (Figs 4A–4F, 5A–5E, 6A–6D, 7B, Table 2.) Material examined: Holotype (soldier), India: Kerala: Thrissur (Asurankundu Dam), 10.6852N, 76.2955E, 12- August-2024, P. M.Aiswarya and A. V. Sudhikumar coll., Colony code, Vial No. AK-12, CATE /IX /0824. Paratypes: 26 workers with same data as holotype. Diagnosis Soldiers small (total body length 3.5-4.00 mm), with asymmetrical swollen labrum, which is longer than wide (length 0.28-0.35 mm, width 0.20-0.25 mm). Median suture extends to 3/4 of head length. Postmentum short. Workers with short clypeus (length 0.12-0.15 mm). Description Imago - Unknown. Soldier - Head capsule yellow in front grading to light; antennae paler than head; labrum hyaline; left mandible black; right mandible reddish black; head and body densely hairy (Fig. 4A). Body length 3.2-3.6 mm (Table 2). Head capsule subrectangular with subparallel sides (Fig. 4B), frons slightly sloping in profile (Fig. 4C), median suture 3/4 of head length without mandibles. Fontanelle small, situated anterior to frons. Antennae with fourteen articles; article two longer than three; article four shortest. Clypeus not distinctly demarcated into anteclypeus and postclypeus. Labrum strongly asymmetrical; swollen with anteriorly incurved margin (Fig. 4D). Mandibles asymmetrical; left mandible strongly twisted in the middle with blunt tip, right mandible short, blade with incurved inner margin. Postmentum club shaped, short; narrowed at waist, minimum width at posterior margin (Fig. 4E). Pronotum saddle shaped, lacking notches at both anterior and posterior margins (Fig. 4F). Worker - Head white to creamish white; antennae, legs, and thorax paler than head, abdomen transparent exposing intestinal contents (Fig. 5A). Head and body densely hairy. Total body length 3.2-3.6 mm. Head capsule subcircular (Fig. 5B), with width exceeding length to base of mandibles (length to base of mandibles 0.57-0.62 mm, maximum head width 0.73-0.76 mm). Fontanelle large and transparent.Antennae fourteen segmented, articles three and four subequal. Clypeus hairy and swollen (Fig. 5C); length less than half of width (length 0.12-0.15 mm, width 0.34-0.37 mm). Labrum dome shaped and hairy (length 0.12-0.17 mm, width 0.24- 0.30 mm). Mandibles with large, anteriorly pointed apical teeth, left with three marginal teeth and right with two marginal teeth (Fig. 5E). Left mandible with first + second marginal having long posterior margin, with blunt tip; third marginal rudimentary or reduced. Right mandible with first marginal having pointed tip, posterior margin longer than anterior margin; prominent second marginal tooth with downwardly incurved tip, posterior margin strongly incurved; molar plate slightly concave. Pronotum saddle shaped (Fig. 5D), without notch at anterior and posterior margins (length 0.14-0.18 mm, width 0.40-0.44 mm). Gut (Figs 6A–6D) with voluminous crop, opening into gizzard with a complete armature arranged in a columnar belt. Mixed segment absent. First proctodaeal segment (P1) short and tubular, entering into the paunch (P3) through a short and narrow enteric valve (P2). Enteric valve armature (Fig 7B) with six acutely triangulate cushions, unequal in size, separated by short intervals; each cushion bearing two spines located in the posterior region. Region of attachment of the enteric valve marked by a constriction. Posterior part of P3 opening into tubular P4, forming a U-turn, and finally entering the rectum (P5). Etymology: The species epithet is derived from its type locality, the Western Ghats. Comparison: Labiocapritermes distortus is the sole species of the genus Labiocapritermes currently known (Chhotani 1997). Labiocapritermes ghatensis sp. nov. shows affinity to L. distortus. The soldier resembles L. distortus (Fig. 175, Chhotani 1997) in having subrectangular head with swollen asymmetrical labrum. The proposed species can be distinguished from L. distortus in having the length of labrum narrower than its width. The second antennal article in L. ghatensis is longer than that of third while the second and third articles are subequal in L. distortus. Workers of L. ghatensis differs from that of L. distortus (Fig. 176, Chhotani 1997) in clypeus length, less than half its width (length 0.12-0.15 mm, width 0.34-0.37mm) vs. length almost half of width. Also, the proposed species has much more prominent second marginal teeth with downwardly incurved tip in right mandible compared to L. distortus which has small second marginal teeth. Antennal articles three and four subequal in L. ghatensis whereas article four is shortest in L. distortus.

3. A taxonomic review of the Indian endemic genus Labiocapritermes Krishna, 1968 (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae) with description of two new species from Kerala, India

   Poovoli Amina, Keloth Rajmohana · 2025 · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)

   Resumen

   Labiocapritermes Krishna, 1968 (Blattodea: Isoptera: Termitidae), endemic to the Southern states of India, has been a monotypic genus. The genus is reviewed and two new species, Labiocapritermes microcephalus Amina & Rajmohana sp. nov., and Labiocapritermes wayanadensis Amina & Rajmohana sp. nov. from Kerala, India are described. A dichotomous key to all three species is provided, along with their distribution map. Distribution data suggest a high elevation affinity to the genus. The genus is documented both in natural and managed habitats. Typically, group III and IV soil-feeding termites are underrepresented in agricultural plots, with higher abundance in less disturbed habitats. In contrast, the present study records L. wayanadensis from a rubber plantation and L. distortus from a tea plantation, suggesting a degree of tolerance to habitat disturbance. This study provides the first documentation of Labiocapritermes occurrence in a managed habitat.

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