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Description of two new species of Termes (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Colombia and Venezuela using morphological and mitochondrial data

par Fontaine, Nicolas ;Hellemans, Simon ;Kaymak, Esra ;Scheffrahn, Rudolf H.;Sillam-Dussès, David;Armbrecht, Inge;Bourguignon, Thomas ;Roisin, Yves
Référence Zootaxa, 5821, 4, page (517-531)
Publication Publié, 2026-06-03

Article révisé par les pairs

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Résumé :

Two new species of the genus Termes Linnaeus are described through an integrative approach, combining whole mitogenome sequencing and comparative morphology across all neotropical congeneric species. Our maximum-likelihood phylogenetic reconstruction places the two new species in a clade sister to the T. fatalis species complex. Termes chocoensis sp. nov. was found along the Pacific coast of Colombia, and Termes atlanticus sp. nov. near the Atlantic coast and in Venezuela. Their soldiers differ from those of other Termes species in terms of head, pronotum, and mandible measurements. Workers exhibit a distinctive armature of the enteric valve, which is currently the only diagnostic character separating T. fatalis from T. atlanticus sp. nov. and T. medioculatus from T. chocoensis sp. nov., highlighting the criticality of examining multiple castes when identifying Termes specimens.