The nasute termites (Isoptera : Nasutitermitinae) of Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The Nasutitermitinae fauna of Papua New Guinea is revised, based on collections from most regions of the country. A total of 22 species is reported, 12 of which are new. The genus Nasutitermes Dudley is represented by the following species: N. triodiae (Froggatt), N. torresi (Hill), N. motu, sp. nov., N. princeps (Desneux), N. koiari, sp. nov., N. pinocchio, sp. nov., N. novarumhebridarum (N. & K. Holmgren), N. nomadensis, sp. nov., N. polygynus Roisin & Pasteels, N. bikpelanus, sp. nov., N. gracilirostris (Desneux), N. leponcei, sp, nov., N. muli, sp. nov., N. seghersi, sp. nov., and N. seghersi malangganus, subsp. nov. Niuginitermes, gen. nov., is created for two species: N. variratae, sp. nov., and N. liklik, sp. nov. Diwaitermes, gen. nov., includes D. kanehirae (Oshima), comb. nov., D. foi, sp. nov., and D. castanopsis, sp. nov. A single species of Tumulitermes Holmgren, T. marcidus (Hill), is newly reported from mainland New Guinea. Grallatotermes Holmgren and Hospitalirermes Holmgren are each represented by one species, G. grallator (Desneux) and H. papuanus Ahmad. All known imagos (18 species) as well as soldiers and workers of all species are described and illustrated. For each species, the known geographic distribution within Papua New Guinea is reported. An identification key, based on soldiers and workers, is also provided.