A protocol to evaluate the taxonomic health of Neotropical species of Nasutitermes (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae)

Abstract

Herein a protocol is proposed to summarize the taxonomic situation for species, using the Neotropical Nasutitermes Dudley (Nasutitermitinae) as a test. The objective of this protocol is to allow comparisons between the available taxonomic information for species, and to provide objective criteria for assessing the information gaps for each taxon in order to prioritize topics for future investigation. Key aspects of taxonomic practice (condition of type specimens, helpfulness of descriptions and figures, compilation of distribution data, molecular data) were noted, the data were tabulated, and the taxa ranked. In addition, specific notes for each species have been included that may help to improve the solutions to the problems raised here.