Termite - Gnathamitermes perplexus

Moved

Moved from Termites. Congratulations! This is a new family, not just a new genus and species for us. Now, if you could just add some shots of those tubes, and maybe chill an adult for a sharper image... : )

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 9 October, 2006 - 8:06pm

More leg work

I found this valuable site for termites.
http://www.termitesurvey.com/

Of the ones found in Arizona, Gnathamitermes perplexus (Termitidae), looks very close to my photo. It has the banded abdomen. And it is also desert dwelling and has underground habits.
http://www.termitesurvey.com/distribution/images/GnathamitermesPerplexus_alate_445x800.jpg
http://www.termitesurvey.com/distribution/gnathamitermes_perplexus.shtml

I also constantly find in the ground area, where I photographed the above picture, tube encrustations of dried mud of where the termites are. This website describes only four winged species in Arizona, and mine is the only one with a banded abdomen
Quote from this website:
http://cals.arizona.edu/urbanipm/insects/termites/subterraneantermites.html
"Reproductives of Gnathamitermes perplexus are 14 to 15 mm long with wings and 8 mm long without wings. Their head and thorax is dark brown, and the abdomen is cross-striped with dark brown and cream-colored bands."

Here's another reference to Gnathamitermes perplexus
http://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd_insects_saguaro_new.html
Quote: "In the fall when life in the desert begins to slow, after the summer
monsoon season has ended, secretive termites start their recycling
activities. Overnight, mud covers the base of the saguaro where barky
material has formed. If the mud is scraped away, small white insects
rush for cover. These are the desert-encrusting termites,
Gnathamitermes perplexus. It is their job to recycle dead plant
material, scraping off and eating the outer layers and returning them
to the soil for next year?s plants to feed upon. Termites are not
saguaro killers, but soil enhancers."

Common-name; Long-jawed Desert Termite.
http://www.utoronto.ca/forest/termite/Movies/gnamov.htm

… Phillip Ruttenbur, 9 October, 2006 - 4:19pm

Looks promising

I think a new guide page may be warranted for this one - I agree it looks like a good match.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 9 October, 2006 - 4:46pm

I turned the website addresses into links

(you can read how to do this in the markup section of Help, if you're interested).

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 1 August, 2006 - 5:26pm

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

… Phillip Ruttenbur, 1 August, 2006 - 8:06pm

Following your links,

I compared the winged adult image of Heterotermes aureus from termitesurvey.com with yours, and I just don't see a match. It's supposed to be a golden-brown color (hence the species name "aureus") with translucent wings, whereas yours look smoky black. I also found an image from University of Florida which does not seem like a good match, either. I'm going to leave this where it is, and perhaps someone more expert in termites will comment. Unfortunately, you've hit on an area where we don't have many images identified to species, either for lack of expertise or lack of identifiable characteristics on photographs, perhaps both.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 1 August, 2006 - 8:17pm

another link

Here's some more good information, just wish they would add in scientific names for these termites they describe. Mine are at least subterranean.
Arizona Termites
The body of the bug could also be 'aureus'....just a thought.

… Phillip Ruttenbur, 1 August, 2006 - 8:28pm

That's from the same site you already listed

- termites.com. The description says
"The Desert Subterranean Termite swarmers are about 3/8" long including their wings. Their body is a pale yellowish brown and a fontanelle (front gland pore) is indistinct or absent. The wings have two prominent hardened veins in the front portion. The wing membrane is translucent, almost colorless, with a few barely visible hairs" - and that's the exact description of Heterotermes aureus from the same site. Sorry, I can't make it fit your image. Not even the bodies of the termites in your shot look golden-brown. (That doesn't mean it's definitively not your termites, just I can't justify making a new guide page on the strength of this.)

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 1 August, 2006 - 8:52pm