Amitermes beaumonti Banks 1918
Creators: name: Rocha, Mauricio M.
name: Cancello, Eliana M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2020
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Isoptera
Termitidae
Amitermes
Amitermes beaumonti

description: Amitermes beaumonti Banks, 1918   
Soldier (Figs. 15A, 15B): Described by Banks (1918), with a redescription by Light (1932). Additional illustrations are provided here.  
Gut anatomy (Figs. 6C, 7D, 7E, 16A, 17, 18A): Crop slightly asymmetrical, covered internally with pectinate scales before gizzard. Gizzard of the generalized type, with columnar and pulvillar belts subequal in length; firstorder pulvilli conspicuous, with tiny pectinate scales, second-order pulvilli reduced (Fig. 16A). Stomodeal valve inserted in apex of mesenteron. Mesenteric tongue internal to mesenteric arch, filiform proximally and gradually enlarging to tip, ending above dilated portion of first proctodeal segment (P1) and enlarged distally (Figs. 17 A–17C). P1 fusiform, crossing abdomen diagonally in dorsal view, over paunch (P3), inserted in P3 dorsally at right side of abdomen, but partially occluded by P4 segment (Fig. 17E, arrow). P1 cuticular ornamentation composed of sparse small spines around mesenteric tongue at mixed segment, followed by elongated area of spines (Figs. 6C, 7D), and sparse spines in distal portion, just before enteric valve (Figs. 6C, 7E). Enteric-valve armature (P2) composed of six digitiform cushions ornamented with small spines distally, and with broadly coverage of small spines proximally (Fig. 18A). P3 well developed and globose, with a marked pouch after P2 (Figs. 17A, 17B, arrows). Isthmus easily recognizable. Fourth proctodeal segment (P4) with short U-turn and located dorsally (Fig. 17A).  
 Comments. Although the available specimens for this study are from Panamá (Fig. 14), we agree with one of the reviews suggestions and include in the paper, since this species distribution overlaps with A. foreli, and maybe reachs the west of Colombia.   
 Material examined. PANAMA. Barro Colorado Island, 26.v.1966, E.K.P. Silveira (1113), 21.vi.1966 (1114), A.E. Emerson, 01.v.1935 (3446*).   
  Amitermes excellens (Silvestri, 1923)    
Soldier (Figs. 15C, 15D): Described by Silvestri (1923); a brief redescription and illustrations were provided by Emerson (1925). Additional illustrations are provided here.  
Gut anatomy (Figs. 6D, 7F, 7G, 16B, 18B, 19): Crop asymmetrical, with oesophagous insertion displaced to left side, covered internally with pectinate scales before gizzard. Gizzard of the generalized type, with columnar and pulvillar belts subequal in length; first-order pulvilli conspicuous, with tiny pectinate scales, second-order pulvilli reduced (Fig. 16B). Stomodeal valve inserted in apex of mesenteron. Mesenteric tongue external to mesenteric arch, of uniform width along its length, ending before dilated portion of first proctodeal segment (P1) (Figs. 19C, 19D). P1 globose, crossing abdomen diagonally in dorsal view, over paunch (P3), inserted in P3 dorsally at right side of abdomen, but occluded by P4 segment (Fig. 19E, arrow). P1 cuticular ornamentation composed of sparse small spines around mesenteric tongue at mixed segment (Figs. 6D, 7F), followed by elongated area of spines with sclerotized bases, and located proximally (Figs. 6D, 7G). Enteric-valve armature (P2) composed of six digitiform cushions ornamented with small spines (Fig. 18B). P3 well developed and globose. Isthmus not recognizable. Fourth proctodeal segment (P4) with short U-turn and located dorsally (Figs. 19A, 19B).  
 Material examined. BRAZIL. Amazonas. São João near to Taperucuara, AM (SA 20, 0-65d), 08.xi.1972, P.E. Vanzolini (5181); Beruri: Purus river, 06.iv.1967, Departamento de Zoologia (1259); Itacoatiara: AM-010, km 232 (between Manaus and Itacoatiara), 21–28.v.1977, A.G. Bandeira (8307, 8311, 8312, 8314, 10449), 29.ix.1977, A.G. Bandeira (7463), 04.xi.1977, A.G. Bandeira (7464*, 8313); Manaus: 20.viii.1976, A.G. Bandeira (7543), Sítio Conceição de Manaus, Rio Amazonas, 10.xi.1953, C. R. Gonçalves (4583), EEST-Alojamento, 05.iv.1991, A.G. Bandeira (9477); Presidente Figueiredo: Cachoeira Iracema, 12.iii.2016, R. G. Santos (24344); Pará. U.H.E São Luís do Tapajós, 17.i.1979, J.M.F. Camargo & P. Mazucato (26960), Between Santa Maria and Itaituba, 18.i.1979, J.M.F. Camargo & P. Mazucato (26973); Belterra: ii.1949, C. R. Gonçalves (3160*), 31.i.1949, C. R. Gonçalves (3165*); Óbidos: ii.1949, C. R. Gonçalves (3854); Santarém: 12.xi.1945, C. R. Gonçalves (4584, 4587); Rondônia. UHE, Santo Antônio, Módulo de Jaci Paraná, 06.iii.2012, R. G. Santos, J. Cabral & T. F. Carrijo (23727); Roraima. Manaus-Boa Vista Km 810 Macujaí, 14.v.1977, A.G. Bandeira (8306), Ilha de Maracá, ix.1987, E.M. Cancello & O.F.F. Souza (9074), Arumim, 13.iii.2016, J.P. Constantini (24325), R. G. Santos (25239); Amajari: 13.iii.2016, T. F. Carrijo (24326), R. G. Santos (24920); Boa Vista: 08.xi.1953, C. R. Gonçalves (4585, 4586), Passarão, 12.iii.1972, K. Kitayama (5313,5316); Bonfim: 15.iii.2016, T. F. Carrijo (24328, 24334, 24335, 24926*), R. G. Santos (24338, 24343), J.P. Constantini (24342, 25764); Caracaraí: 15.iii.2016, J.P. Constantini (24324), T. F. Carrijo (24340), RR-km 639, Manaus-Boa Vista, 14.v.1977, A.G. Bandeira (8309); Mucajai: 15.iii.2016, R. G. Santos (24345), J.P. Constantini (24919); Uraricoera: E. Ecol. de Maracá, 20.v.2015, G. Biffi & R. Falashi (23400); GUIANA. Cuyuni- Mazaruni. Kamakusa (Mountain?), 03.xii.1922, H. Lang (3448), Kartabo: 10.viii.1919, A.E. Emerson (3449*, type colony).   
  Amitermes foreli Wasmann, 1902    
Soldier (Figs. 15E, 15F,): originally described by Wasmann (1902), with a brief description of the external morphology of the soldier, worker and nymph. A good redescription was provided by Light (1932), based on the type specimens. Additional illustrations are provided here.  
Gut anatomy (Figs. 20A, 21, 22A, 23A, 24A): Crop asymmetrical, with oesophagous insertion displaced to left side, covered internally with pectinate scales before gizzard. Gizzard of the generalized type, with columnar and pulvillar belts subequal in length; first-order pulvilli conspicuous, with tiny pectinate scales, second-order pulvilli reduced (Fig. 20A). Stomodeal valve inserted in apex of mesenteron. Mesenteric tongue external to mesenteric arch, of uniform width along its length, ending above dilated portion of first proctodeal segment (P1) and enlarged distally (Fig. 21C). P1 strongly globose, crossing abdomen diagonally in dorsal view, over paunch (P3), inserted in P3 dorsally, at right side of abdomen, but occluded by P4 segment. P1 cuticular ornamentation composed of small spines restricted to border of mesenteric tongue, remaining surfaces glabrous (Figs. 22A, 23A). Enteric-valve armature (P2) composed of six elongated cushions ornamented with small spines (Fig. 24A). P3 well developed and  
globose, with a partial pouch after P2 (Figs. 21A, 21C, arrows). Isthmus easily recognizable. Fourth proctodeal segment (P4) with short U-turn, located dorsally (Fig. 21A).  
 Material examined. COLOMBIA. Atlántico. Barranquilla: 29.viii.1938, C. Seevers (3450).   
  Amitermes lunae Scheffrahn & Huchet, 2010    
Soldier (Figs. 15G, 15H): Originally described by Scheffrahn & Huchet (2010), with photographs of the soldier and worker´s enteric valve, but without a description of the gut coiling.  
Gut anatomy (Figs. 20B, 22B, 23B, 24B, 24C, 25): Crop asymmetrical, with oesophagous insertion displaced to left side, covered internally with pectinate scales before gizzard. Gizzard of the generalized type, with columnar and pulvillar belts subequal in length; first-order pulvilli conspicuous, with tiny pectinate scales, second-order pulvilli reduced (Fig. 20B). Stomodeal valve inserted in apex of mesenteron. Mesenteric tongue internal to mesenteric arch, narrower proximally and gradually enlarging to tip, ending before dilated portion of first proctodeal segment (P1) (Fig. 25C). P1 fusiform, crossing abdomen diagonally in dorsal view, over paunch (P3), with long narrow neck, inserted ventrally at P3 (Fig. 25B, arrow). P1 cuticular ornamentation composed only of elongated area of spines with sclerotized base, located proximally (Figs. 22B, 23B). Enteric-valve armature (P2) weakly sclerotized, with six elongated cushions ornamented with small scattered spines (Figs. 24B, 24C). P3 well developed. Isthmus easily recognizable. Fourth proctodeal segment (P4) with short U-turn and located dorsally (Fig. 25A).  
Comment. Only a few specimens were available to prepare the enteric valve slides and we did not succeed in obtaining a perfect preparation; however, the original description includes pictures.  
 Material examined. PERU. Huaca de la Luna, 05.vi.2009, J.B. Huchet (27469).   
 Fig. 26 shows the MZUSP collection records of A. excellens , A. foreli and A. lunae.
description: Published as part of Rocha, Mauricio M. & Cancello, Eliana M., 2020, Comparative anatomy of the gut of the South American species of Amitermes, with description of two new species and an identification key based on soldiers and workers, pp. 75-104 in Zootaxa 4751 (1) on pages 84-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4751.1.4, http://zenodo.org/record/3711794