Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen, 1858)

Ponpinij, Suksawat, Hasin, Sasitorn, Kaewgrajang, Tharnrat, Voraphab, Itsarapong & Nipitwattanaphon, Mingkwan, 2024, Positive association between PTN polymorphisms and schizophrenia in Northeast Chinese Han population., Zoological Studies 63 (52), pp. 141-149 : 6-7

Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen, 1858)

Synonymy: Termes (Termes) gilvus Hagen, 1858 , and next available name for Termes azarelii Wasmann, 1896 in Myanmar, which is preoccupied by Termes malayanus Haviland, 1898 in Singapore and Malaysia; Termes (Macrotermes) luzonensis Oshima, 1914 in Philippines; Termes (Macrotermes) manilanus Oshima, 1914 in Philippines; Termes (Macrotermes) philippinae Oshima, 1914 in Philippines; Termes (Termes) copelandi Oshia, 1914 in Philippines; Macrotermes gilvus padangensis Kemner, 1930 in Indonesia; Macrotermes gilvus borneensis Kemner, 1933 in Indonesia; Macrotermes gilvus angusticeps Kemner, 1934 in Indonesia; Macrotermes gilvus kalshoveni Kemner, 1934 in Indonesia; Macrotermes gilvus latinotum Kemner, 1934 in Indonesia; Macrotermes gilvus madurensis Kemner, 1934 in Indonesia.

Material examined: The specimens of M. gilvus were collected from the deciduous dipterocarp forest at Nam Phong National Park in Khon Kaen province and at Phu Toei National Park in Suphan Buri province. Sixty soldier termites (i.e., major soldier 30 samples and minor soldier 30 samples) were used for describing.

Major soldier case: thorax and legs have reddish brown in color, abdomen sternites light brown, vertex reddish brown ( Fig. 1H ). Head; light reddish brown or brown, subrectangular head capsule, lateral margins slightly convex, maximally wide in the middle, a few hairs in the anterior region, length of head to side base of mandibles with 3.23 mm to 4.01 mm; width of head at side base of mandibles with 1.44 mm to 2.09 mm. Antennae; 17 segments, the third segment 1.5-fold as long as the second, the fourth shorter than the third. Mandibles; stout, thick at bases, tips not curved, dark reddish brown, left mandible with a few crenulations at the base, right mandible without crenulations, length of left mandible with 1.42 mm to 2.02 mm. Labrum; reddish brown, slightly longer than broad, the hyaline tip triangular, not elongated and not sharpened at the tip, a row of hairs along the lateral sides and a few hairs at the base of the hyaline tip. The pronotum distinctly emarginated anteriorly and posteriorly; the lateral sides broadly rounded, a few tiny hairs along the anterior margin; dorsal area without hairs, pronotum length with 0.93 mm to 1.29 mm, pronotum width with 1.82 mm to 2.81 mm. Postmentum long, broadest in the apical fourth region; narrowest in the middle; lateral margins concave in the middle; convex in the basal fourth region. Mesonotum; broad and narrowly rounded lateral sides, the posterior margin broadly emarginate and concave. Metanotum; like the mesonotum, posterior margin broadly concave.

Minor soldier case: thorax and legs have brown or reddish brown in color, abdomen sternites light brown, vertex reddish brown ( Fig. 1I ). Head; reddish brown, scantily hairy, one pair of hairs in the posterior half, subrectangular head capsule, length of head to side base of mandibles with 1.82 mm to 2.28 mm, width of head at side base of mandibles with 0.88 mm to 1.35 mm. Antennae; 17 segments; the second segment shorter than the third; the fourth half as long as the third. Mandibles; long, rather slender, and slightly curved apically, dark reddish brown, bases lighter, the left mandible with a few crenulations at the base, and the right mandible without crenulations, length of left mandible with 1.14 mm to 1.50 mm. Labrum; more extended than broad; the sides moderately convex, and broadest slightly below the middle, the hyaline tip dome-shaped, not elongated, and sharp at the tip, a row of long hairs on each lateral side and a few hairs at the base of the hyaline tip. Pronotum; the lateral sides broadly rounded, a few tiny hairs along the anterior margin; dorsal area without hairs, pronotum length with 0.59 mm to 0.88 mm, pronotum width with 0.4 mm to 1.61 mm. Postmentum long, broadest in the apical fourth region; narrowest in the middle; lateral margins concave in the middle; convex in the basal fourth region. Mesonotum; broad and narrowly rounded lateral sides, the posterior margin broadly emarginate and concave. Metanotum; like the mesonotum, posterior margin broadly concave.

Distribution: Cambodia, East-West Timor, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand.

Figures

Fig. 1. Fungus-growing Termite species: (A) Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, (B) Hypotermes makhamensis, (C) Microtermes obesi, (D) Macrotermes annandalei (Major soldier), (E) Macrotermes annandalei (Minor soldier), (F) Macrotermes carbonarius (Major soldier), (G) Macrotermes carbonarius (Minor soldier), (H) Macrotermes gilvus (Minor soldier), (I) Macrotermes gilvus (Major soldier), (J) Odontotermes feae, (K) Odontotermes takensis, and (K) Odontotermes longignathus.