Abstract
An attempt has been made to use some structures of the external genitalia in the taxonomy of termites. Twenty-five species of four largest families were examined. Only the female external genitalia appeared to be suitable for identification of species, with some genital structures (medisternite, basivalvae, parasternites, etc.) being most important for these purposes. The taxonomic suitability of these structures is different in different families. In the family Kalotermitidae, the medisternite and spermathecal opening are strongly sclerotized and suitable for the species identification, whereas the basivalvae are reduced or lost. In Hodotermitidae, the basivalvae are well-developed and their shape is different in different species. Structural features of the basivalvae and spermathecal opening are species-specific in Rhinotermitidae, the shape of the basivalvae and position of the spermathecal opening, in Termitidae. In addition, species of Termitidae have a characteristic strigation of the basivalvae. In Macrotermitinae and Nasutitermitinae, the anterior margins of sternite IX are well sclerotized and form parasternites. The structures proposed by us as diagnostic vary only within species.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmad, M., “Key to the Indomalayan Termites,” Biologia (Lahore) 4(1–2), 33–198 (1958).
Artemyev, M.M., “The Morphology and Development of the Termite Anacanthotermes ahngerianus Jacobs. (Isoptera, Hodotermitidae),” in Termites and their Control (Ashkhabad, 1968), pp. 43–68 [in Russian].
Belyaeva, N.V., “The Morphology of the Termite Anacanthotermes turkestanicus Jacobs. (Hodotermitidae),” Trudy Entomol. Sektora Probl. Nauch.-Issled. Lab. Razrabotke Metodov Bor’by Biol. Povrezhdeniyami Mater. Biol.-Pochv. Fak. Moskov. Univ., No. 2: Termity, 5–34 (1972).
Belyaeva, N.V. and Zhuzhikov, D.P., “On the Fauna and Distribution of Termites in the USSR,” Trudy Entomol. Sektora Probl. Nauch.-Issled. Lab. Razrabotke Metodov Bor’by Biol. Povrezhdeniyami Mater. Biol.-Pochv. Fak. Moskov. Univ., No. 5: Termity, 7–61 (1974).
Browman, L.G., “The Chitinous Structures in the Posterior Abdominal Segments of Certain Female Termites,” J. Morphol. 57, 113–129 (1935).
Fuller, C., “Studies on the Post-embryonic Development of the Antennae of Termites,” Ann. Natal Mus. Durban 4, 19–102 (1920).
Geyer, J.W.C., “The Reproductive Organs of Certain Termites, with Notes on the Hermaphrodites of Neotermes,” Entomol. Mem. Dept. Agr. Union S. Afr. 2, 232–325 (1951).
Grassé, P.-P., “Ordre des Isoptères ou Termites,” in Traité de Zoologie, Ed by Grassé, P.-P. (Paris, 1949) Vol. 9, pp. 408–544.
Holmgren, N., “Termitenstudien. 3. Systematik der Termiten. Die Familie Metatermitidae,” Kgl. Svenska Vetensk. Akad. Handl. 48(4), 1–166 (1912).
Holmgren, N., “Termitenstudien, 4, Versuch einer systematischen Monographie der Termiten der orientalischen Region,” Kgl. Svenska Vetensk. Akad. Handl. 50(2), 1–276 (1913).
Imms, A.D., “On the Structure and Biology of Archotermopsis, together with Description of New Species of Intestinal Protozoa and General Observation on the Isoptera,” Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London. Ser. B 209, 75–180 (1919).
Jacobson, G.G., “On Termites of Russia,” Tr. Byuro Entomol. Uch. Kom. Gl. Upr. Zemleustroistva Zemledeliya 4(8), 3–54 (1904).
Klass, K.-D., Thome, B.L., and Lenz, M., “The Male Postabdomen of Stolotermes inopinus: a Termite with Unusually Well-developed External Genitalia (Dictyoptera: Isoptera: Stolotermitinae),” Acta zool. (Stockholm) 81, 121–130 (2000).
McKittrick, F.A., “Evolutionary Studies of Cockroaches,” Cornell Univ. Agric. Exper. Sta. Mem. 389, 1–197 (1964).
Roonwal, M.L., “External Genitalia of Termites (Isoptera),” J. Zool. Soc. India 7, 107–114 (1955).
Roonwal, M.L., “Papillae on Tibial Spines and Spurs in the Termite Mastotemes darwiniensis,” Sci. and Cult. 38(5), 255 (1972).
Roonwal, M.L., “Recent Researches on Wing Microsculpturing in Termites (Isoptera) and its Evolutionary and Biological Significance,” Proc. Indian Nat. Sci. Acad. Ser. B 51(2), 135–168 (1985).
Roonwal, M.L. and Chhotani, O.B., “The Apical Tibial Spur Formula in the Termite Genus Coptotermes,” J. Zool. Soc. India 11(2), 125–132 (1959).
Roonwal, M.L. and Chhotani, O.B., “Wing Microsculpturing in Termite Genera Odontotermes, Hypotermes, and Microtermes (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) and Its Taxonomic Value,” Zool. Anz. 178(3–4), 236–262 (1967).
Roonwal, M.L. and Sangal, S.K., “Variability in the Mandibles of Soldiers in the Termite Odontotermes obesus,” Rec. Indian Mus. 55, 1–22 (1960).
Weesner, F.M., “The Biology of Colony Foundation in Reticulitermes hesperus Banks,” Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 61(5), 254–314 (1956).
Weesner, F.M., “The Reproductive Systems,” in The Biology of Termites Ed. by Krishna, K. and Weesner, F.M. (Acad. Press, New York, 1969), Vol. 1, pp. 125–160.
Zhuzhikov, D.P., Termites of the USSR (Moscow Univ., Moscow, 1979) [in Russian].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Original Russian Text © N.V. Belyaeva, I.G. Dovgobrod, 2006, published in Zoologicheskii Zhumal, 2006, Vol. 85, No. 4, pp. 462–469.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Belyaeva, N.V., Dovgobrod, I.G. The genitalia of termites (isoptera): Possibilities of using in taxonomy. Entmol. Rev. 86, 501–508 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873806050010
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0013873806050010