Caputitermes, a new genus of soldierless termite (Blattaria: Isoptera: Termitidae) with dimorphic workers from the Amazon rainforest

Abstract

ABSTRACT Soldierless termites (Blattodea: Isoptera: Apicotermitinae) are a small and taxonomically poorly known group, especially in the Neotropical region. In this paper we describe a new monotypic genus Caputitermes gen. nov. with a straight mesenteron-P1 junction, and absence of mixed segment. The species Caputitermes dimorphus sp. nov., which stands out for having two types of workers.

Keywords

• taxonomy
• worker gut
• enteric valve
• Apicotermitinae