Record of New Termite (Blattodea, Termitidae) Species in Togo West Africa

Abstract

In Africa, despite their economic and ecological importance, termites are still relatively unknown. Their systematic remains uncertain, the approximate number of species for many biogeographic areas is underestimated, and there is still confusion in the identification of the species for many genera. This study combined morphological traits with morphometric measurements to determine several species collected in Togo and provided head illustrations of soldiers. Termites were sampled within the frame of transects laid in several landscapes inside three different parks including: Fosse aux Lions, Galangashie, and Fazao Malfakassa. Samples were grouped by morphospecies and measurements of part of the body (length and/or width of head, mandible, pronotum, gula, and hind tibia) were conducted. Twelve termite species including Foraminitermescorniferus, Lepidotermes sp., Noditermes cristifrons, Noditermes sp. 1 and Noditermes sp. 2, Promirotermes holmgren infera, Promirotermes sp., Unguitermes sp., Amitermes evuncifer, A. guineensis, A. truncatus, and A. spinifer were separated and pictured. Ten new species were added to the check list of the country, including five unidentified ones. Further studies such as biomolecular analysis should be carried out in order to clarify the status of these unknown species.

Special Issue: Selected Papers from the 1st International Electronic Conference on Entomology

“…The studies in this SI deal with various interesting aspects of research, i.e., identification of termite species in West Africa [ 1 ], characterization of the microbial symbionts of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) populations [ 2 ], the contribution of bacterial symbionts to the thermal tolerance of two aphid species Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) and Sitobion avenae (F.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) [ 3 ], recording the nematode fauna in Greek forests [ 4 ], investigation of genetic variability in Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from Serbia through microsatellite loci [ 5 ], comparison of damage caused to tomato plants by the biocontrol agents Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) and Dicyphus cerastii Wagner (Hemiptera: Miridae) [ 6 ], evaluation of numerous essential oil-based microemulsions as grain protectants for management of two major stored-product insects, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) [ 7 ], investigation of several aspects of the life history of the biological control agent Neoleucopis kartliana (Tanasijtshuk) (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) in Greece [ 8 ], validation of theoretical models explaining the persistence of mtDNA variation within populations of Drosophila obscura Fallén (Diptera: Drosophilidae) [ 9 ], description of how thermal conditions, sex, and population origin may affect stress resistance in Drosophila subobscura Collin (Diptera: Drosophilidae) [ 10 ], the genetic structure of Corythucha ciliata (Say) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) based on mitochondrial DNA analysis [ 11 ], utilization of ecological/geographical models to evaluate changes in the distribution of Oedaleus decorus (Germar) (Orthoptera: Acrididae) [ 12 ], investigation of exposure to heavy metals and population origin on the diversity of microbiota and fitness in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and D. subobscura [ 13 ], a database and checklist of alien insects in Greece [ 14 ], evaluation of direct and delayed mortality caused by the anthranilic diamide chlorantraniliprole to adults and larvae of T. castaneum , adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and adults and nymphs of Acarus siro L. (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) [ 15 ], identification of Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel and Miller (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) as potential vectors of cacao mild mosaic virus (CaMMV) [ 16 ], defining relationships between coccinellids and aphids on alfalfa in Spain [ 17 ], exploration of the diversity and phylogeny of Tingidae species occurring on olive trees in South Africa using morphology and mitogeno...…”