Microcerotermes serrula

This Microcerotermes species have soldiers whose head are very rectangular with shorter, thicker mandibles than the more commonly found species. The nest is similar to those of the common species and are found on the side of tree trunks not to far up from the ground. These termites do not appear to do serious damage to the trees on which they nest as they feed only on dead wood. The entire nest may sometimes drop off the trees many many years later after the nest loose all the resident termites. The most common species of this termite genus in this location is Microcerotermes crassus.  Microcerotermes termites usually nest on the main trunks of trees. Their nests are made of chewed wood and excrement.

Workers and soldier of Microcerotermes serrula.

A Microcerotermes serrula soldier, reproductive nymph and workers

The soldier of a Microcerotermes serrula.

Microcerotermes serrulla soldier.

A soldier of Microcerotermes.

Reproductive nymphs, workers and soldiers of Microcerotermes serrula.

Workers of Microcerotermes.

Close-up of a termite worker of Microcerotermes.

A nymph of the reproductive caste of the termite Microcerotermes.

Close-up of a soldier and worker of Microcerotermes serrula.

See also:
Microcerotermes crassus
Microcerotermes biroi.


Taxonomy:
Top Node: Cellular organisms 131567
Superkingdom/Domain: Eukaryota 2759
(Unrank) Opisthokonta 33154

Kingdom: Metazoa 33208 (Fungi/Metazoa group)
(Unrank) Eumetazoa 6072
(Unrank/Subkingdom) Bilateria 33213
(Unrank) Coelomata 33316
Branch: Protostomia 33317
(Unrank) Ecdysozoa 1206794
Superphylum: Panarthropoda 88770
Phylum: Arthropoda 6656
(Unrank) Mandibulata 197563
(Unrank) Pancrustacea 197562
Superclass: Hexapoda 6960
Class: Insecta 50557
(Unrank) Dicondylia 85512
(Unrank) Pterygota 7496
Subclass: Neoptera 33340
Infraclass: Orthopteroidea 33341
Superorder: Dictyoptera 6970
Order: Blattodea 85823
Infraorder: Isoptera 7499 (this has been reassigned as Infraorder placed under the order Blattodea)
Family: Termitidae 46569
Subfamily: Termitinae 92738
(Unrank) Amitermes group (Amitermitinae/Amitermitidae) 377823
Genus: Microcerotermes 139992
Species: serrula 187518

Last Updated: 2013 09 27
First Posted: 2011 03 24
© 2011 - 2013 Quah. All rights reserved.

Technomyrmex The White Footed Ant

Technomymex is considered to be a pest ant in some countries especially in countries where they are an invasive species. It is one of those ants that "appears" to not have any petiole.

A nest of Technomyrmex albipes. The queen which is just slightly larger than the workers is shown on the left  

Some Technomymex workers.

Close-up of a worker of Technomyrmex albipes showing the segmented antennae.

Here a worker of Technomyrmex albipes stands on two of its six legs.

Technomyrmex sp

Technomyrmex sp

See also:

Technomyrmex sp(02)

Technomyrmex sp(03)

Taxonomy

No rank: cellular organisms 131567

Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota 2759

No rank: Opisthokonta 33154

Kingdom: Metazoa 33208

No rank: Eumetazoa 6072

No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria 33213

No rank (Branch): Protostomia 33317

No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa

No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda 88770

Phylum: Arthropoda 6656

No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata 197563

No rank: Pancrustacea 197562

Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda 6960

Class: Insecta 50557

No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia 85512

Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota 7496

Infraclass: Neoptera 33340

Cohort: Holometabola

Order: Hymenoptera 7399

Suborder Apocrita 7400

Infraorder: Aculeata 7434

Superfamily: Formicoidea

Family: Formicidae 36668

Subfamily: Dolichoderinae 40139

Genus: Technomyrmex 121514

Species: albipes 369240


Last Updated: 2022 02 24
First Posted: 2011 03 18
© 2011 - 2023 Quah. All rights reserved.

Procapritermes Sp1

Procapritermes genus of termites can be call pre-Pericapritermes as the transformation of the mandibles appeared to be moving to the reverse (or back) flick response where the resting or prestrike state have the mandibles crossed. Pericapritermes flicks apparently (from my personal experiment with the palm of my hand as the measuring device) delivers a stronger force than those of Procapritermes.

A worker and soldier of a Procapritermes termite species. Most species of Procapritermes nest in excrement nest build on the ground commonly at the base of a tree. This first species in terms of overall length is shorter, at just over 5 millimeters, than the second species below.

The mandibles of Procapritermes typically are slightly longer proportionately then those of their new world cousin, the Neocapritermes.

In this Procapriternes termite species the left mandible of the soldier already has signs of a wavy curvature which in Pericapritermes is much more pronounced.

Soldiers and workers of a large Procapritermes species.

Procapritermes sp2.

The soldiers of this Procapritermes (sp2) has a disproportionately longer head. This Procapritermes soldier measured at close to 8 millimeters. 

Soldiers of this species of Procapritermes has a very short abdomen that gives it a disproportionate appearance. The head-mandibles is two third of the total length.

Photo below shows the Procapritermes sp2's soldiers against a millimeter tape at around 8 millimeters.

Procapritermes setiger.

Soldier and worker of Procapriternes setiger ssp2.

Soldier of Procapriternes setiger ssp1.

Procapritermes sp6.

This species resembles Procapritermes setiger above but with more curves in the mandibles and a shorter and thicker head capsule. See more images of this species in the Undocumented Species page.

Procapritermes sp7

A large Procapritermes species, the soldiers measuring over 9 millimeters.

Workers and soldiers of a large Procapritermes species.

A  “rocket scientist” wannabe commented that the soldiers of Pericapritermes do not appear to play a significant role in colony defense. I conducted an experiment on the effectiveness of Procapritermes and Pericapritermes soldiers against their common enemy - small ants that may manage to enter into their foraging tunnels or nest passage ways - by dropping three soldiers of this Procapritermes species into a nest of Pheidologeton affinis. The kill rate of these soldiers averaged four Pheidologeton workers each, and this while they were completely overwhelmed and being dismembered. Below are some photos of the Pheidologeton's casualties. The kill rate is better than that on Amitermes, Globitermes and Coptotermes which average less than zero point five.

The head and upper body of this Pheidologeton worker completely flicked off.

'

This minor worker of Pheidologeton suffered a direct hit on the head and is totally dead.

This minor worker of Pheidologeton was hit in the mandibles and knocked out for over half an hour, one half of the mandible completed broken with a part of the antennae.

In the narrow confines of their tunnel passageways these Procapritermes, Paracapritermes and Pericapritermes termites soldiers are formidable opponents. Needless to say unlike Coptotermes and other normal mandibled species Procapritermes, Paracapritermes and Pericapritermes soldiers do not venture out into the open where they become highly vulnerable and ineffective. This might be perceived by some as being non aggressive.

See also:

Procapritermes genus 

Procapritermes sp2

Procapritermes sp(06)

Procapritermes sp

Procapritermes setiger

Taxonomy
No rank: cellular organisms
Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota
No rank: Opisthokonta
Kingdom: Metazoa
No rank: Eumetazoa
No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria
No rank (Branch): Protostomia
No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa
No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata
No rank: Pancrustacea
Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia
Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
No rank: Polyneoptera
No rank (Superorder): Dictyoptera
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blattoidea
No rank: Termitiodea 1912919

Family: Termitidae 46569

Subfamily: Termitinae 92738

Group: Pericapritermes 1934616

Genus: Procapritermes 187580

Updated: 2021 07 27

Posted: 2011 03 12

© 2011 - 2021 Quah. All rights reserved.