Morphology of the worker digestive tube of the soil-feeding nasute termites (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ) from the neotropical region

Morphology of the worker digestive tube of the soil-feeding nasute termites (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae ) from the neotropical region

Luiz Roberto Fontes

Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Caixa Postal 20.520, São Paulo, SP

ABSTRACT

The morphology of the parts and the configuration in situ of the worker digestibe tube of the 8 soilfeeding genera with nasute solidiers from the Neotropical Region are studied. All genera showed a reduced or incomplete gizzard armature, a tubular first proctodeal segment terminating in the left half of the abdomen, an enteric valve armature with trilateral symmetry and often with strong spines, a paunch of two large sections separated by a constriction, and a long colon. In addition, a mixed segment at the mesenteron-proctodeal junction is absent in Convexitermes, Atlantitermes, Araujotermes, Coatitermes, Subulitermes and Agnathotermes, and present in Cyranotermes and Angularitermes, the latter having also a gizzard armature stronger than usual in the soilfeeding nasutes. The coiling of the gut and the morphology of some gut parts provide a good means for the identification of undissected workers of all genera.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I thank the Trustees of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo for permission to examine material in the termite collection and facilities allowed during my work in the Museu, and the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (proc. 82/0346-4) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (proc. 40.2963/79), for their financial assistance. I am also grateful to Dr. W. A. Sands, for his advice during my visit to the British Museum (Natural History) and Centre for Overseas Pest Research, in January and February of 1980, and to my colleagues of the Universidade de São Paulo, especially Drs. Nelson Papavero, Ubirajara R. Martins, Maria E. Jorge, Sérgio A. Vanin, Paulo S. Terra, Solange M. F. Ribeiro and Walter A. Neves for their criticism and help In the course of this study.

REFERENCES

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Aug 2009
• Date of issue
  1986