PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 91(2), 1989, pp. 269-285 KEY TO THE KALOTERMITIDAE OF EASTERN UNITED STATES WITH A NEW NEOTERMES FROM FLORIDA (ISOPTERA) David A. Nicicle and Margaret S. Collins (DAN) Systematic Entomology Laboratory, BBH, Agricultural Research Service, % National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560; (MSC) Research Asso- ciate, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. 20560, Abstract. — \ new species of drywood termite of the genus Neotennes is described and figured, and an identification key is included to separate it from nine other kalotermitids from Florida. This species was first recognized as distinct from another morphologically very similar species, Ncotcnues jouteli (Banks), on the basis of karyotypic and isozymatic differences. Key Words: Neotennes, Kalotermitidae, termites Termites resembling Neolernws joulcli head width, in dorsal view, the greatest (Banks and Snyder) 1920 but differing from breadth at the genae; head depth, in lateral that species in chromosome number and view, the distance between the vertex and isozyme patterns were recently noted by Dr. the ventral margin of the head capsule; eye Peter Luykx during the course of a cytogenic diameter, the width of the eye of the imago survey of species of the family Kalotermi- measured from its anterior to posterior tidae. We were requested to seek, and here- margin; postociilar distance, in dorsal view with report, morphometric features for on the imago, the shortest distance from the characterizing this new taxon to make the midpoint of the occipital margin of the head name available for his research. Although to the imaginary line connecting the pos- we are confident that most of the termite terior margins of the compound eyes; sub- species of the United States have been de- ocular distance, in lateral view, the shortest scribed, we find that refinements in taxo- distance connecting the ventral margin of a nomic techniques are beginning to uncover compound eye with the ventral margin of complexes among already described species the head capsule; ocellus length and width. (Haverty and Thome 1989, in press). When the greatest and shortest diameters, respec- chromosomal, isozymatic, or behavioral tively, of the ocellus; postmentum length. studies are used in termite investigations, the distance from the midpoint of the labial more species may be discovered in North suture to the midpoint of the inner posterior America. margin of the postmentum; postmentum Samples were preserved in 85% ethanol; width, the minimum width of the postmen- morphological features were measured with tum at its constriction; length and wi(/th of the device described in detail by Grant pronotum. in dorsal view, the medial length (1965). Measurements consisted of the fol- and greatest width of the pronotum; length lowing values in millimeters: head leni^lli. and width of wing, the total length of the in lateral view, the distance from the left forewing, including the scale, and the great- ventral mandibular condyle to the occiput; est width of the forewing; total length, in 270 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON lateral view, the length of the body from the Tablc 1. A list of chromosome numbers (2n) for Florida species of Kalotemiitidae (Luykx and Syren tip of the face to the apex of the abdomen; 1979, Luykx pers. comm). k'lii^lli of the mandible, in dorsal view, the length of the soldier mandible measured Spi-L ics from the notch at the base of the outer man- dibular condyle to the tip of the mandible (Tables 2, 4, 5). Morphometric ratios found to have some value in identifying Florida kalotcrmitids included the following: Head L/W, the ratio of head length to head width; Head L D. the ratio of head length to head depth; Head W/D, the ratio of head width to head depth; Postocular distance/Eye diameter and Sub- ocular distance/Eye diameter, Pronotum W/L, the ratio ofthe greatest width to medial length of the pronotum; Wiiii; L IT, the ra- tio of the wing length to wing width; Wing L/U'ingscale L. and Post nient urn L W (Ta- bles 3, 6, 7). Except for a previously unidentified sol- dier and nymph in the National Museum Collection that had been collected by E. M. Miller in 1930. all of the material upon which this description is based was collected in south Florida by Peter Luykx. Specimens used in this study have been deposited in the following institutions: National Mu- seum of Natural History, Smithsonian In- stitution, Washington, D.C. [NMNH], and the American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY [AMNH], Description Neotermes luykxi Nickie and Collins Nkw Spkcies Holotype. — Short-headed soldier. Flori- da: Broward Co. Dania. PL 389C. 30 June 1984. (Coll. P. Luykx). [NMNH]. Morpho- type. Imago. Florida: Broward Co. Holly- wood. PL 558. 2! August 1986. (Coll. P. Luykx). [NMNH]. Paratype ^el•ies. — 26 roldiers, 15 ima- goes, 20 nymphs. Florida: Broward Co., Hollywood, PL 439, (P. Luykx), 6 soldiers, 5 imagoes, 4 nymphs [NMNH]; Same lo- . ' VOLUME 91, NUMBER 2 271 < < oooooooooo z z r-1 a^ r^ <o> ^ o O __^ On o HIT- r-- ::^ (^ ^ ni ::^ — ^ '^. rn r-i •—ON •—' — rn I Ov I -*. ON (^ 7 '^ : "^ ": " -' ^. ^. ; o^ d o d od o —^ - o od - ^i ^_^ ? c o 5 5; "3 (—I oj 272 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON VOLUME 91, NUMBER 2 273 Table 4. TERMINTE LONG-HEADED SOLDIERS: means (.v) and ranges of measurements (in mm) of morphological features of Neotennes and Incisttermes species from Florida. Numbers in parentheses after value mdicate size of sample. NA = not available for measurement. 274 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON VOLUME 91, NUMBER 2 275 Table 6. Ratios of morphological features of long-headed soldier termites from Florida. Numbers in paren- theses after value mdicatc size of sample. NA = not available for measurement. 276 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Table 7. Ratios of morphological features of short-headed soldier termites from Florida. Numbers in pa- rentheses after value indicate size of sample available for measurement. NA = not available for measurement. ^folcrnivs /rtiisilcrmes Inasilermes Incisiicrnws Kahtermes loutcli IuvLm snvderi schwar:i milleri approximalus Head L/W VOLUME 91. NUMBER 2 277 /. schwarzl LH /. schwarzl SH mlllerl SH 278 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON -^^^^hi<.4i C. nearcticus /. snyderi Fig. 2. Termite soldiers, head profile. A, .Xeoleniws castciiieus: B, N. joutcli. long-head (LH); C, N. jouleli. short-head (SH); D, N. luykxi. LH; E, N. luykxi, SH; F, Incisitennes schwarzi. LH; G, /. schwarzi. SH; H, Kalotermes approximatus; I, /. snyderi; J, /. millcii, LH; K, /. milleri, SH; L, Calcaritermes nearcticus. Capra 1978). These species, othei^vise mor- oped soldiers from 2nd and 3rd instar lar- phologically very similar to Gryllolalpa vae, while older colonies developed soldiers gryllotalpa (L.), have chromosome comple- from 4th and 5th instar larvae. ments of 17, 15, 16, 18, and 14, respec- There are five genera ofdrywood termites tively, compared with 12 for (7. gryllotalpa. in the eastern United States: Calcaritermes Once it was determined that different chro- (nearcticus (Snyder 1933)). Cryptotermes mosomal numbers occurred within the (cavifrons Banks 1906 and brevis (Walker complex, it was possible to establish mor- 1853)), Incisitermes (snyderi, schwarzi. and phometric parameters of the variable char- milleri), Kalotermes (approximatus Banks acters for each species. and Snyder 1920), and Neotermes (casta- As in Incisitennes milleri (Emerson). /. neus, jouteli. and the new species luyk.xi). snyderi (Light), /. schwarzi (Banks), and All of these species are known to occur in Neotermes jouteli, N. Inyk.xi soldiers occur Florida. as long-headed or as short-headed forms. Kalotermes appro.ximatus is not usually Short-headed forms are usually more com- economically important, except in rare cases mon than long-headed ones within most when it becomes locally abundant. It is gen- samples we have seen. The different head erally associated with dead wood in sand forms probably result from differences in dunes in northern Florida, Alabama, Mis- the stage of nymphal development when sissippi, and Louisiana, and northward along soldier differentiation occurs. Grasse and the coastal plain into southern Virginia. Noirot (1958) demonstrated that young Weesner (1965) reported this species in Kalotermes flavicollis (F.) colonies devel- homes in Waco, Texas, in 1957 and 1958 VOLUME 91, NUMBER 2 279 A W. luykxl N. iouteli C. cavifrons Fig. 3. Wings of alates of kalotermitids. A, Neotermes joulelt B, A', hiykxi; C, N. caslaneus: D, Incisilermes schwarzi; E, /. snyden; F, Crypioiermcs cavifrons; G, Calcarilermes nearclicus. (M = medius vein.) according to National Pest Control Asso- Indies. Central and South America. Neo- ciation Records, but we have no specimens termes liiyk.xi is presently known only from to confirm its presence in that state. Monroe. Dade, ard Broward Counties. The two genera of kalotermitids most Florida. Neotermes species tend to be more likely to be encountered in southern Florida moisture-dependent than those of Incisi- are Neotermes and liicisiteiDies. Neotermes termes (Collins 1 969). Neotermes jouteli may jouteli occurs in southern Florida, Jamaica, enter man-made structures, infesting wet the West Indies, and Mexico, Neotermes wood or wood that becomes wet from time castaneus occurs in southern Florida, West to time. Neotermes castaneus also has been 280 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Fig. 4. Scanning electron micrographs of morphological features of kalotermitid termites. A, Calcanlennes nearcliais. apex of left foretibia, lateral aspect. B, W-oicrmcs castaneus soldier, left mandible, dorsal aspect. C, D. Scoiermes castaneus. imago mandibles: C. left. D, right. E, F. Crvptotermes brevis. imago mandibles: E, left, F, right. recorded as a pest of avocado, guava, and the Coastal Plain from Texas to Florida and citrus trees in south Florida and other parts northward to South Carolina and in Central of its range, attacking dead wood of injuries America and several islands in the Carib- and then invading adjacent living parts of bean.