Table Of ContentHALTERES,Volume4,48-52,2013
ISSN0973-1555©PcxjvouAmina,Keu3ThRajmohana,ChenthamarakshanBuoy.ChandilashekaramenonRjU^
First record of the Srilankan Processional Termite, Hospitalitermes
monoceros (Konig) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) from India
Poovoli AminaS Keloth Rajmohana^*, Chenthamarakshan Bijoy^,
Chandrashekaramenon Radhakrishnan^ andNivedita Saha^
i.2,3. ^jy^gfgfyj GhatRegional Centre, ZoologicalSurveyofIndia, Calicut, Kerala - 673006
^ZoologicalSurveyofIndia, M-Block, NewAlipore, Kolkata-700053
(e-mail: *[email protected])
Abstract
Hospitalitermes monoceros (Konig), a termite species hitlierto endemic to Sri Lanka, is reported for the
first time from India collected in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala. Since the original description is
scanty,thespeciesis redescribed and illustratedbasedon soldier andworkercastes.
Keywords: Hospitaliteremes monoceros, termite, Redescription, India, SriLanka.
Introduction
The genus Hospitalitermes Holmgren, 1997 and Somnuwat et al. 2004). The
1912 (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) is observed absence of the cockroach notch on
distributed from Sri Lanka and India, the molar plate ofthe right mandible (Fig. 4)
throughout Southeast Asia, Southern China in the worker caste categorically differentiates
and across Indonesia archipelago to New them from the closely related genus
Guinea(Jones, 2012). They are among the few Lacessititermes Holmgren, 1912 (Syaukani et
unique termites, foraging in columns in open al, 2011). Inhabiting in evergreen and
air during late evenings for epiphytes like semievergreen forests, these are open air
lichens, blue green algae growing on the foragers distributed in Oriental and Papuan
surface of tree trunks, in canopies of tropical Region. The original description of H.
forests (Collins, 1979). So far under the genus monoceros being scanty, both the soldier and
three species H. madrasi (Snyder, 1934), H. worker castes of the species are redescribed
jepsoni (Snyder, 1934), H. blairi Roonwal and here.
Sen-Sarma, 1956 have been reported from
Material andMethods
India (Chhotani, 1997).
Specimens were collected from five
As a part of our taxonomic
investigations on Termites of Kerala, we colonies while foraging at Chinnar Wildlife
report H. monoceros (Konig, 1779), for the Sanctuary (lO^OS' to 77^22' N latitude and
first time from India hitherto reported from Sri 77''05'to 77°17'E longitude), located in the
Lanka alone. The genus Hospitalitermes is rain shadow region of the Western Ghats,
also reported here for the first time from Idukki, Kerala, India. The specimens were
Kerala, and is diagnosed by a combination of preserved in 80% alcohol. Dissections and
characters in the soldier caste: head with a measurements were also made in 80% alcohol
constriction behind antenna, mandibles with a under the stereo zoom microscope, Leica
pointed spine-like process, antenna with 14 M205A, at magnifications between 10-160X.
segments, hind legs extending beyond Mandibles of the worker caste were mounted
abdomen with an elongate tibia (Chhotani, on glass slides in Canada balsam and then
48
PoovoliAmina,KelothRajmohana,ChenthamarakshanBijoy,ChandrashekaramenonRadhakrishnanandNivediUSaha
examined for diagnostic characters. coxal and femoral regions of legs in dorsal
Photographs were taken using a Leica DFC view slightly paler than head capsule; thorax
500 camera, and processed with the help of with a fine, whitish line medially; stemites and
extendedfocus software, LAS version 3.6. otherpart oflegsbrownishwhite.
The identification was made using Head capsule in dorsal view strongly
Chhotani (1997) and Somnuwat et al. (2004). constricted behind antennal sockets, with
Morphological terminology for describing anterior part excluding nasus extremely
soldiers andworkers follow Tho (1992), Sands smaller than posterior part, dorsal outline
(1998) and Gathome-Hardy (2001), while including nasus in profile concave or
measurements are taken in accordance with appearing depressed; nasus in dorsal view
Chhotani (1997). Studies on worker mandibles relatively short, less than halfas long as head
followPontes (1987). capsule, hairy attip ofnasus, inprofile slightly
All specimens are deposited in the up curved, but apical third feebly down-
National Zoological Collections of the curved; eyes small whitish spots; antennae
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), at Calicut elongate with 14 segments, third segment
(Kozhikode), Kerala, India. twice as long as second (0.21 0.1 mm), fourth
:
shorter than third, fourth and fifth nearly equal
Taxonomy
in length, seventh to fourteenth gradually
decreasing in length; head capsule pyriform
Hospitalitermesmonoceros (Konig, 1779)
with two long hairs on posterior part of head
Syn: Termes monoceros atrum Konig, 1779:
capsule; mandible vestigial, each with long
28, pi. 1: figs. 10-11 [first introduced as
brown, pointed spine-likeprocess.
Termes monoceros atrum Konig, 1779.
Body wall strongly sclerotized, gut not
Typelocality- Sri Lanka (Ceylon).
—
clearly visible; pronotum saddle shaped,
Ahmad, 1958: 139, 141.
—
almost half as long as wide, anterior margin
Prashadand Sen-Sarma, 1960: 26-32.
weakly convex and feebly indented in the
Redescription middle, posterior margin strongly convex
without notch; tergites thinly hairy with short
Soldier (Figs. 1-2) hairs, stemites moderatelyhairy.
Monomorphic; varying in size; head Legs moderately long, hairy, hind tibia
capsule pale brown anteriorly and blackish elongate (2.14-2.55 mm), tibial spurs 2:2:2;
brownposteriorly; antennae darkbrown; nasus tarsi four-segmented; cerci two segmented, a
pale brown; pronotum, abdominal tergites.
Table 1: Measurements ofsoldiers of//, monoceros (n=10)
.A'-JisUstiss Characters Measurements (mm)
Head length includingnasus (HLN) 1.71-1.81
Head lengthmeasuredtobase ofmandible (HL) 1.16-1.29
Nasus length (NL) 0.45-0.60
Nasus index (NL/HL) 0.39-0.52
Maximumheadwidth (HW) 1.16-1.21
Width at constriction (CW) 0.78-0.80
Head constriction index (CW/HW) 0.65-0.69
Headbulge (HB) 0.40-0.54
Headbulge index (HB/HL) 0.33-0.42
Pronotumlength 0.35-0.43
Pronotumwidth 0.63-0.66
Total body length 3.97-4.43
Length ofhindtibia 2.14-2.55
FirstrecordofTermite,Hospitalitermesmonoceros(Konig)fromIndia
Worker(Figs. 3-5) preserved in 80% ethanol (Colony code:
Dimorphic; Major Worker: head capsule ZSIAVGRC/IR/INV/3079-3083) deposited at
subquadrate (length to base ofmandibles 1,16- Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat
1.19 mm, maximum width 1.33 mm), dark Regional Centre, Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala,
brown to black, epicranial suture prominent, hidia.
fontanelle plate longish white; labrum slightly
pale brown; post clypeus swollen dark brown
length less than halfofwidth; antennae brown
with 15 segments, segment three much longer
than two (1.58: 1.21 mm); segment four (1.41
mm) slightly longer than segment two. Head
and body covered with very minute hairs, few
dorsally, butnumerous ventrally.
Thoraxbrown, pronotum strongly saddle
shaped, anterior margin weakly convex and
feebly indented inthe middle, posteriormargin
strongly convex without notch and deeply
notched antereo-laterally; abdominal tergites
pale brown, femora dark brown and beyond
tibiabrownishwhite.
Minor Worker (Fig. 3): similar to major
worker except being small in size; third
antennal segment as long as segment two and
pronotumnot deeplynotched antereo-laterally. Fig. 1: H. monoceros, soldier(dorsalview).
Mandibles (Fig. 4): apical tooth of left Discussion
mandible shorter than first marginal; second H. monoceros resembles most to H.
marginal tooth absent; third marginal tooth madrasi Snyder. The soldiers ofboth species
smaller than first and fairly protruding from are dark with pale rostrum and numbers of
cutting edge, separated from molar their antennal segments remain the same. In
prominence by a distinct gap; apical tooth of both the species the worker caste is dimorphic.
right mandible shorter than first marginal To mention the differences between the
tooth; first marginal tooth with anterior edge species, H. monoceros has a blackish brown
ahnost straight; second marginal tooth clearly head with paler anterior part and the third
recognized and separated from much larger segment ofantennae is twice as long as second
first marginal tooth; posterior edge of second segment, while in H. madrasi, head colour is
marginal tooth nearly straight; strongly castaneous brown to dark reddish brown and
developed molar ridge of mandible (Fig. 5) the third segment ofantennae is 2.2-2.5 times
aids in scraping and grinding wood; cockroach as long as second. Further H. madrasi is a
mm
notch absentinmolarplate ofrightmandible. larger species with body size 5-5.30 than
that ofH. monoceros (3.97-4.7 mm).
Alate: unknown The finding of a species, hitherto
Material examined: 10 soldiers and 10 considered endemic to Sri Lanka, in south
workers, 2.viii.2012 (coll. C. Bijoy); collected Kerala is not surprising as Amina and
randomly from 5 colonies (Champakkad: Rajmohana (2013) also very recently reported
Chinnar Wild life Sanctuary, Idukki, Kerala). Ceylonitermelles Emerson, 1960, a Srilankan
Numerous samples of both soldiers and endemic genus again from South Kerala
workers collected from 5 different colonies signifying occurrence of Sri Lankan termite
within 4km radius of Champakkad have been taxain SouthernIndia.
50
PoovoHAmina,KelothRajmohana,ChenthamarakshanBijoy,ChandrashekaramenonRadhakrishnanandNiveditaSaha
FirstrecordofTermite,Hospitalitermesmonoceros(Konig)fromIndia
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the Director, History35: 1485-1506.
Zoological Survey ofIndia (ZSI), Kolkata and Holmgren, N. 1912. Termitenstudien.3. Systematik
der Termiten. Die Familie Metatermitidae.
the Officer-in-Charge, ZSI, Calicut, Kerala,
We Kungliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens
for support and encouragement. are
Tom Handlingar48(4): 1-166+4pis.
grateful to Dr. Miura, Japan, forliterature
Jones, T. 2012. Accessed online at
support. Thanks are also due to State Forest
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-
Department (Kerala) for collection permits. of the day/ collections/ collecting/
Mr. Biju (Watcher, Chinnar Wildlife hospitalitermeshospitalis/index.html on 21-
Sanctuary, Kerala) and Mr. M. Gnanakumar, 08-2012.
Naturalist (Palakkad) are also thanked for Konig, J.G. 1779. Naturgeschichte der
helpingus inoursearch forthetermites. sogenannten weissen Ameise.
Beschaftigungen der Berlinischen
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