Capritermes Complex

Capritermes genus is another of the termites with soldiers that used stored energy mechanism for defense. The genus is classified under the Pericapritermes group of genera where all have soldiers with ‘deformed’ mandibles which deploy a flicking action (utilizing stored energy to increase power wield) as defense. The other group of genera that use this defensive mechanism is the Termes group and the Mirocapritermes group. The Mirocapritermes group have mandibles (left and right) that are asymmetrical whereas in the Termes group they are symmetrical (or almost).

There is scant document of the species (documented in this post) in this location (except in some references of Malaysiocapritermes 2629287 for which I could not find definitive referential morphological material, but these are listed under the Termes group so I have ruled that out).

With little information available, this classification should be considered unconfirmed for Capritermes of the first two species (listed in this post) and the subsequent species I have provisionally classified as Pseudocapritermes (from morphological comparison to the published documentation on Pseudocapritermes). 

The first genus (comprising two species listed here) in this post is the largest so far that I have come across. The most obvious morphological difference between the first genus (provisionally listed as Capritermes complex) and the second genus listed as Pseudocapritermes is the length of mandibles to head capsule ratio for the former is relatively shorter. Capritermes has mandibles that are around half the length of their head capsules while Pseudocapritermes mandibles are around the same length as their head capsules.

Soldier of Capritermes (complex) sp07

Capritermes sp02

Pseudocapritermes sp01

This species is actually currently classified under Capritermes complex: Pseudocapritermes.

Pseudocapritermes sp02

This species is actually currently classified under Capritermes complex: Pseudocapritermes. I shall move this once a page on this genus is published here.

Pseudocapritermes sp03

In this species the head capsule (length to width ratio) is shortest among the three listed here.

See also:

Pseudocapritermes sp(02)

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: Capritermes (complex) 187526

             Pseudocapritermes 187561

             unclassified Pseudocarpitermes 2629287

Last Updated: 2021 08 27

First Posted: 2015 07 07

© 2009 – 2021 Quah. All rights reserved.