Undocumented Species.

This page list the termites and ants which are undocumented for this location. Many (a couple to a few dozens, at least) of the species of ants especially, lesser so termites (as well as other small animals from snakes, spiders to insects) posted in this blog have not been documented (i.e. described in taxonomy literature). Of note is a species of Echinopla documented in this blog in 2011 C.E. which was only (formally or officially) sampled (i.e. collected), described and published (in Taxonomy literature) in 2018 C.E. and named or tagged as Echinopla tunku-abduljalilii.

This post only list those that I can clearly and distinctly determined to be undocumented, obviously as I don't have the time nor the needed facilities to definitively examine each and every species that I post in this blog.

One surprise find is the genus I have provisionally labelled under Capritermes (UniProt Taxon ID 187526) of which there is no documented record of any in this locale.


Termites

Pseudocapritermes

 
Pseudocapritermes sp01. is an undocumented species of the Termes group. This species has a similarly shaped mandibles as Capritermes sp1 below. The head capsule of this second species is proportionately shorter though. Overall length of the soldier is around 6.5 millimeters to 7.5 millimeters. The abdomen of the soldiers when in an unstressed state is typically longer than as seen in the photos below. Capritermes' morphology would position it as an ‘in-between’ species of Kemneritermes and Dicuspidermes. See  more in the Capritermes Complex post.

Pseudocapritermes sp02. This species has soldiers measuring around 9.5 millimeters (total length, and head capsule length at slightly over 3 mm while the width is the same as sp2). The head capsule is also (view from top) more squarish than the previous species (listed above).

Pseudocapritermes sp03

Capritermes sp01

This Capritermes species (sp1) is one of the largest of the Termes group that I have encountered to date (Sept 2013) with soldiers measuring over eleven millimeters and workers measuring over six and half millimeters. Both the workers and soldiers are larger than those of Macrotermes gilvus, a large fungus growing species of the Macrotermitinae sub family. The head capsule of this species is significantly longer (proportionately) than the two species (Pseudocapritermes) listed above. See  more in the Capritermes Complex post.

This is species is undocumented.

 Capritermes sp(01) workers.

The mandibles of the soldiers resembles those of Kemneritermes and also (lesser) Dicuspiditermes.

 The head capsule resembles those of Dicuspiditermes and also (lesser) Pericapritermes.

The abdomen is closest to those of Kemneritermes.

 Capritermes species (sp2)

Unclassified Species: Pericapritermes group

This looks somewhat similar to Dicuspiditermes and is provisionally tagged as such, and it may be Pseudocapritermes or a yet undocumented and thus an unclassified genus. This species is about the size of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus but the head capsule of the soldiers is more rounded with the center of the head wider than both the anterior and posterior. See more of this species described in Dicuspiditermes nemorosus page. The head capsule of the soldiers has a shorter (i.e. broader, from the perspective of the length to width ratio) appearance when compared against that of Dicuspiditermes nemorosus. This species looks more like a Pseudocapritermes transition.

Macrotermes

This Macrotermes species is larger than Macrotermes gilvus but slightly smaller than Macrotermes malaccensis. Photo below is of the major soldier.

Minor soldier of Macrotermes.

Worker of Macrotermes sp. For more info and photos see Macrotermes sp1.

Procapritermes

Workers and a soldier of Procapritermes sp. This species shows the beginnings of deformation (i.e. knobbly nodes ) in the mandibles that is transitory of the Termes genus to the Procapritermes (also Homallotermes) genus. 

Procapritermes sp. with soldiers measuring close to 7 millimeters.

Workers and a soldier of Procapritermes sp.

Soldier and worker of Procapritermes sp. This species resembles Procapritermes setiger but with more curvy (and knobby) mandibles and a shorter and thicker head capsule. Soldiers attack mode is cross flicking (as opposed to open flick) of its mandibles.

Microcerotermes

Soldiers and workers of a larger than normal Microcerotermes species. This species resembles Microcerotermes dubius but is larger. With the head capsule close to 2 millimeters long it is significantly larger than any recorded species from this location.

Ants:

Unclassified Myrmicinae

 This is more likely Secostruma than any other genus even as there are some key differences in the head, antennae and gaster; enough (from just the visible morphology alone) to make this an unclassified genus of the Myrmicinae subfamily. Because Secostruma is the closest resemblance I have provisionally tagged it as such. Secostruma is only known by one species, Secostruma lethifera, with a key identifier in the shape of the gaster. Actually this specimen looks more like a three way cross between Secostruma, Dilobocondyla and Pristomyrmex, the gaster and antennae looks more like Pristomyrmex while the thorax and a head (though much broader and with some semblance of antennal scrobe of Dilobocondyla) with barely discernible eyes are closer to Secostruma. Pristomyrmex has a more rounded head with small eyes whereas Secostruma has a more squarish head (and this specimen also a relatively larger head in proportion to the body). The waist of Pristomyrmex is also relatively shorter with the petiole nodes more pronounced. So maybe it is either or neither but a hybrid, possibly a missing link, a Pristostruma or a Secomyrmex (I am seriously kidding, which of course is an oxymoron). Pristomyrmex are surface foragers and are also semi arboreal, this species is mostly subterranean Another point to note is that Pristomyrmex are sugar loving ants but not this specimen, it totally ignored sugar.

 Secostruma sp. worker.

Secostruma sp.

Gyne of Secostruma sp.

Pheidole

The minor, median and major workers with a gyne and brood of a rare trimorphic species of Pheidole ant. In this rare trimorphic species there are three morphological expression of the worker's caste. But most unusual is that beside the typical minor and major workers expression there is a median worker expression. Most species of the Pheidole genus are dimorphic and it has been reported that less than one percent of this vast genus is trimorphic. There are six or seven known species of Pheidole that are trimorphic and these are mostly found in North America. All these known trimorphic species have two major worker expression namely the major and super major. So this is the only case of the Pheidole genus with a median worker caste.

The median worker, major worker and minor workers of a rare Pheidole species.

The major workers and a minor worker of a rare trimorphic Pheidole species. The gaster of the major and median workers are also heavier or bulkier than the typical Pheidole.

The minor worker of a rare Pheidole species.

The median worker of a rare trimorphic Pheidole species.

A small Pheidole species.

The queen and also the soldiers have very squarish heads (view from top).

A mid size Pheidole. In this species the major workers has prominent elevated plateau on the head that might serve as a sort of defensive plug into the nest and tunnel passage that resembles slightly (i.e. not as pronounced and significant) as the Colobopsis group of Camponotus ants. 

Monomorium

Though Monomorium pharaonis is a well known pest ant and extensively documented, I have placed this here as there is no documentation (that I know of) of secondary queens which never ever carried wings in their development. In the photo above are these wingless secondary queens with slim thorax similar to worker ants. See more of this secondary queens in the Monomorium pharaonis page. This is not Monomorium pharaonis even though it very closely resembles M. pharaonis but with one very obvious notable difference. In this species the post petiole node is significantly larger than the petiole node. Secondary queens are common in termites though not all genera have them. These secondary queens are what I called non imago queens. Ants from this location such as Diacamma, Leptogenys, Aenictus, Dorylus all have queens that do not develop into the imago stage common in insects. Only these Monomorium pharaonis secondary queens still retain their ocelli. Of course there are insects that never have a true imago expression in their life cycle whether they undergo complete (wasp, bees, beetles, ants) or incomplete metamorphosis (such as grasshopper, cockroach, termites).

Solenopsis

Solenopsis sp. is monomorphic and monogynous. This is tiny species has workers that are just slightly over 1 millimeters in length (TL)

Worker of Solenopsis sp(04).

Tetramorium

Major (top) and minor workers of Tetramorium sp.

Two major and several minor workers of Tetramorium sp. This is a dimorphic species of Tetramorium that is atypically aggressive almost as aggressive as Solenopsis geminata when their nests are exposed or disturbed. Generally the Tetramorium genus are (mostly) monomorphic ants.

Unclassified Formicinae

Camponotus

 Major worker of a dimorphic Campontus species.

Minor worker of Campontus. This minor worker slightly resembles Camponotus singularis except that the tapering of the head towards the posterior is taken is much more pronounced.

Paratrechina

This may be the only documented (by this author) Paratrechina genus with a dimorphic worker class. This species is larger than Paratrechina longicornis having minor workers (top, center and bottom) of around 4 mm (TL) and major (left and right) at around 5 mm (TL).

See more of this species in the post Paratrechina sp.

Unclassified Ponerinae

This queen of a large Ectonomyrmex species measured at almost 18 millimeters.

 Workers of Ectonomyrmex sp(18) are around 16 millimeters.

  Pseudoneoponera sp12 is a Pseudoneoponera tridentata look alike but is smaller measuring only around 12 millimeters. The petiole node is also not as broad (from top).

Pseudoneoponera sp14 is a large species measuring around 17 millimeters. This looks like a slim version of Pseudoneoponera tridentata. The petoile only has two tiny spines whereas P. tridentata's has three.

Last Updated: 2021 09 03
First Posted: 2010 09 01
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