Coptotermes gestroi
Creators: name: Takematsu, Yoko
name: Vongkaluang, Charunee
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2012
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Blattodea
Rhinotermitidae
Coptotermes
Coptotermes gestroi

description: Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann, 1896)
(Figures 4A–E, 13B)
Termes gestroi Wasmann, 1896: 628.
Coptotermes gestroi, Holmgren, 1911: 73, pl.5, fig.9.
Coptotermes javanicus Kemner, 1934: 59. Synonymized by Snyder, 1949: 79.
Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren, 1911: 192. Synonymized by Kirton and Brown, 2003, 47.
Coptotermes travians (Haviland) sensu Roonwal and Chhotani, 1962: Kirton and Brown, 2003, 47.
Coptotermes travians (Haviland) sensu Roonwal and Maiti, 1966: Kirton and Brown, 2003, 47.
Coptotermes travians (Haviland) sensu Roonwal and Chhotani, 1989: Kirton and Brown, 2003, 47.
Coptotermes travians (Haviland) sensu Tho, 1992: Kirton and Brown, 2003, 47.
Material examined
THAILAND: Chiang Mai: Fang, 14 June 1965, K. Morimoto coll. [NHML]; Mae Klang Waterfall, Ban Luang, 11 June 1965, K. Morimoto coll. (identified as havilandi by K. Morimoto) [NHML]; Tak: Mae Sod, 17 April 1962, M. Ahmad coll. [NHML]; Lampang: Jae Sorn National Park, 600 m alt., 27 June 2000, Y. Takematsu coll.; Sakhon Nakhorn: Phu Phan National Park, 360 m alt., 24 August 2003, Y. Takematsu coll.; Nakhorn Ratchasima: Nakhorn Ratchasima, 23 January 1998, Y. Takematsu coll.; Bangkok: Bangkok, 24 February 1999, C. Klanckew coll.; Kanchanaburi: Khaoen Srinakarin Dam National Park, 28 March 1998, Y. Takematsu coll.; Surat Thani: Koh Saam Sao, Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, 20 March 2003, Y. Takematsu coll.; Khao Pla Teao Wildlife Conservation, 3 November 2002, Y. Takematsu coll.; Khao Sok National Park, 300 m alt., 4 November 2002, Y. Takematsu coll.; Phuket: Bang Kanoon, Phuket Is., 13 June 1997, Y. Sornnuwat coll.; Ban Kanoon, Phuket Is., 3 November 2002, Y. Takematsu coll.; Trang: Ka Chong, 6 March 1962, M. Ahmad coll. (identified as havilandi by M. Ahmad) [NHML]; Narathiwat: Hara Bara Wildlife Sanctuary, 22 January 1999, Y. Sornnuwat coll.; Phu To Daeng, 31 May 1997, Y. Takematsu coll.
Diagnosis
Soldier. Head sparsely hairy; pronotum scantily hairy or bald on the dorsal surface; postmentum with several long hairs. Head elongately oval, narrowed anteriorly, bHW / mHW 0.58–0.65 (0.61); mandibles moderately incurved, LML / HL 0.58–0.64 (0.61). Antennae with 14–15 segments. Narrowest part of postmentum located about half way between the widest point and the posterior margin
Measurements (mm)
Twenty-five soldiers from 10 series: HL, 1.28–1.45 (1.37); mHW, 1.05–1.19 (1.13); LML, 0.82–0.86 (0.85); PL, 0.40–0.44 (0.42); PW, 0.78–0.85 (0.82); PosL, 0.90–1.00 (0.96); PosW, 0.37–0.42 (0.40).
Distribution
Thailand, Burma, China, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, India (excludes areas where it has been introduced by humans).
Remarks
This species is widely distributed throughout Thailand (Figure 13B) and is a serious pest of construction timber. It shows a wide variation of size and was often confused with C. havilandi, which was also a pest species in Southeast Asia. However, Kirton and Brown (2003) reviewed the taxonomy of pest species in Southeast Asia and synonymized C. havilandi as a junior synonym of C. gestroi. Coptotermes gestroi can easily be distinguished from other species in Thailand by having oval head, less narrowed anteriorly.
description: Published as part of Takematsu, Yoko & Vongkaluang, Charunee, 2012, A taxonomic review of the Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) of Thailand, pp. 1079-1109 in Journal of Natural History 46 (17 - 18) on pages 1086-1087, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2011.651653, http://zenodo.org/record/5199813