A Redescription of Pericapritermes ceylonicus (Holmgren, 1911) (Blattodea, Isoptera, Termitidae) and First Record from India

Authors

  • M. Ranjith Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Navile, Shivamogga, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8111-504X
  • M. M. Rocha Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • C. M. Kalleshwaraswamy Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Navile, Shivamogga- 577204, Karnataka, India
  • Jessica L. Ware Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
  • Ruth Salas Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v69i4.7238

Keywords:

Enteric valve, Gut morphology, Karnataka, Redescription, Soldier

Abstract

Until now, the occurrence of Pericapritermes ceylonicus (Holmgren) was not confirmed in the Indian mainland. Here, we document the occurrence of this species from Karnataka state constituting its first report from India. The species was identified based on the soldier caste, and the worker characters were described for the first time, including the digestive tube and enteric valve armature. The enteric valve was characterized by the presence of gradually reducing triangular spines. The study provides the basis for further taxonomic characterization of Pericapritermes occurring in India using gut morphology of workers.

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References

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Published

2022-12-28

How to Cite

Ranjith, M., Rocha, M. M., Kalleshwaraswamy, C. M., Ware, J. L., & Salas, R. (2022). A Redescription of Pericapritermes ceylonicus (Holmgren, 1911) (Blattodea, Isoptera, Termitidae) and First Record from India. Sociobiology, 69(4), e7238. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v69i4.7238

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Section

Research Article - Termites