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Redescription of the Monotypic Neotropical Genus Crepititermes Emerson (Termitidae: Termitinae)

  • Systematics, Morphology and Physiology
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Abstract

Based on a reexamination of specimens of Crepititermes Emerson deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil (MZUSP), we characterize the morphology and coiling in situ of the digestive tube of workers of Crepititermes verruculosus Emerson for the first time. We provide additional notes on the imago and soldier and present digital images and illustrations for all castes. We also update the currently known geographical distribution of C. verruculosus, adding some biological remarks.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to R Constantino (UnB), A Vasconcellos (UFPB), and RH Scheffrahn (UF) for providing records of C. verruculosus samples housed in their institutions; CRF Brandão for allowing us to use the optical equipment at the MZUSP for image capture; and EM Cancello for helpful suggestions. We received financial support from the São Paulo Research Foundation, Brasil (FAPESP) through grants 2012/00952-9 to MM Rocha and 2013/05610-1 to C Cuezzo.

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Correspondence to M M Rocha.

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Edited by Roberto A Zucchi – ESALQ/USP

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Rocha, M.M., Cuezzo, C. Redescription of the Monotypic Neotropical Genus Crepititermes Emerson (Termitidae: Termitinae). Neotrop Entomol 44, 457–465 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13744-015-0307-4

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