The soldier of T. bandeirai differs from soldiers of the other three Tauritermes species by having a distinct and robust frontal horn and a roundly protruding dorsal horn (Fig. 2C). The dorsal and frontal horns of T. triceromegas (Silvestri, 1901) are more angular but much smaller, barely elevated above the frons in oblique view (Fig. 3C). In T. vitulus Araujo & Fontes, 1979, the dorsal horn is similar to that of T. bandeirai sp. nov., while the fronal horn is absent (Araujo and Fontes 1979, fig. 10). In T. taurocephalus (Silvestri, 1901), the dorsal horn is more elevated and angular, while the frontal horn is also absent (Fig. 4C).

Figure 1. 

Imago of Tauritermes bandeirai sp. nov. (SA502) A dorsal and B lateral views of head and pronotum C right forewing.

The T. bandeirai soldier differs from its congeners in that its frons and horns are more rugose, the basal mandible humps are broader and more angular, and the third antennal article is more club-shaped. Only T. taurocephalus has a similarly shaped postmentum (Figs 2D, 4D). In T. triceromegas, the postmentum is posteriorly elongated (Fig. 3D) and in T. vitulus it is posteriorly widened (Araujo and Fontes 1979, fig. 15).

Figure 2. 

Soldier of Tauritermes bandeirai sp. nov. (SA499) A dorsal B lateral C oblique, and D ventral views of head and pronotum. AC = antennal carina, DH = dorsal horn, FH = frontal horn, and GH = genal horn.

The imago head and pronotum of T. bandeirai are mostly unremarkable, except for a relatively large ocellus in comparison with the rather small compound eye. Among kalotermitid genera, the forewing venation is closest to Incisitermes Krishna with one diagnostic exception. In Incisitermes, the median vein is not sclerotized and its terminus does not closely approach the radial sector (Scheffrahn 2014, fig. 5). In T. bandeirai, the distal third of the median vein is sclerotized and closely paralells the radial sector (Fig. 1C). The wing venation of T. vitulus is similar to that of T. bandeirai, but no sclerotization is reported (Araujo and Fontes 1979, fig. 1).

Figure 3. 

Soldier of Tauritermes triceromegas (PA942) A dorsal B lateral C oblique, and D ventral views of head and pronotum. DH = dorsal horn and FH = frontal horn.

Imago (Fig. 1A–C, Table 1). Head capsule and pronotum light brown. Compound eye obtusely triangular; ocellus a shade lighter than vertex, very large, and roundly ellipsoid; nearly touching eye margin. Vertex covered with about one dozen short setae. Pronotum about as wide as head capsule; anterior margin weakly emarginate in middle. Pronotum covered with a few dozen setae in middle, lateral margins with about one dozen setae each. Antennae with 15 articles, basal article relative lengths 1>2<3>4. Fore wing with subcosta joining costal margin at about one-eighth of wing length from suture. Radius joining costal margin at one-third wing length; radial sector with about four anterior branches. Median vein becoming lightly sclerotized at distal third as it encroaches near the radial sector. Wing membrane and first 4–5 branches of cubitus lightly pigmented, concolorous with apical radial sector and median veins. Arolium present.

Figure 4. 

Soldier of Tauritermes taurocephalus (BO722) A dorsal B lateral C oblique, and D ventral views of head and pronotum. DH = dorsal horn.

Soldier (Fig. 2A–D, Table 2). Head capsule, in dorsal view (Fig. 2A), dark castaneous brown from postclypeus to antennal carinae, grading to orange at occiput. Head capsule narrowing toward antennal carinae; antennal carinae rugose and visible from above. Frontal ridge V-shaped with deep median cleft. About a dozen fine setae on vertex and genae. Eye spots hyaline, narrowly elliptical. In lateral view (Fig. 2B), dorsal horns (or protuberances) forming a rounded shelf near right angle; frontal horns projecting above base of mandibles. Genal horns slightly posterior to frontal horns, anterior to dorsal horns. Pronotum shield-shaped, wider than head; anterior margin rugose, incised in middle with rounded anterior lobes. In oblique view (Fig. 2C), dorsal and frontal horns rising prominently from frons; horns and frons coarsely rugose. Postclypeus (Fig. 2D) forming elongated, nearly symmetrical hexagon. Third antennal article slightly club-shaped, relative article length 2<3>4=5. Mandibles two-fifths length of head capsule; basal humps robust, rugose; lateral margin of humps parallel. Outside margin of blade nearly straight from above, then curving at right angle at one-fifth from apex; apical tooth thick, marginal dentition weak. Mandibles curve evenly by about 15° in lateral view.

Holotype soldier, Brazil: Paraíba, São José da Mata (7.1829, -35.9767); 659 meters A.S.L., 17AUG2000, A. Vasconcellos (AV); one soldier (labelled as holotype, Fig. 2), one soldier and pseudergates (paratypes); University of Florida Termite Collection (UFTC) no. SA499, subsample from Universidade Federal da Paraíba Termite Collection (UPTC) no. 3160.

Brazil: Bahia, Itagiba, Fa. Conjunto S. Luis (-14.2840, -39.8428), 194 m, 18MAR1994, Jan Křeček; one soldier, pseudergates; UFTC SA444. Bahia, Morro do Chapéu (-11.6474, -41.2694), 974 m, 5NOV2015, AV; four soldiers, four imagos, pseudergates; SA504, 7309 (UFTC and UPTC accession numbers respectively). Bahia, Milagres (-11.6473, -39.8333), 700 m, 16MAR2012, AV; four soldiers, pseudergates; 4362. Paraíba, Maturéia (-7.2669, -37.3514); 700 m, 20MAY2000, AV; three soldiers, pseudergates; SA497, 1255. Paraíba, Mamanguape (-6.8386, -35.1261); 33 m, 24JUN2000, AV; two soldiers, pseudergates; SA498, 1799. Paraíba, João Pessoa (-7.1554, -34.8731); 53 m, 20DEC2012, AV; three soldiers, five imagos; SA502, 4747. Paraíba, São José dos Cordeiros, RPPN Faz. Almas (-7.3905, -36.8083), 523 m, 07MAR2003, AV; three soldiers, pseudergates; 4746. Pernambuco, Buíque (-8.5333, -37.2333); 705 m, 16APR2009, AV; two soldiers, one imago, pseudergates; SA500, 3307. Pernambuco, Floresta Tacaratu (-8.6500, -38.0167); 924 m, 29JUN2010, A. A. V. O. Couto; one soldier, two imagos, pseudergates; SA503, 5014. Pernambuco, Igarassu (-7.8371, -35.0006); 129 m, 10MAR2016, A. A. V. O. Couto; two soldiers, pseudergates; SA505, 8512.

(Fig. 5) Northeastern Brazil, Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes. Tauritermes localities taken from the literature are given in Table 3.

Figure 5. 

Map of Tauritermes from the literature and UFTC. Biomes are shown for Brazil. See Scheffrahn (2019b) for UFTC data and Table 3 for literature references.

Named for Dr. Adelmar Gomes Bandeira, the graduate and post-graduate advisor of AV who died in 2019. Dr. Bandeira was one of the first termitologists to work on termite ecology in the New World.

The colonies of T. bandeirai were collected inside dry trunks in the beginning stages of decomposition (diameter > 3cm) and in dead terminal branches still attached to the trunks, both in areas of Caatinga and Atlantic Forest. In the Caatinga, colonies of T. bandeirai were relatively easy to extract from dead terminal branches of Commiphora leptophloeos (Mart.) J.B. Gillett (Burseraceae). This tree is also a “hot spot” for collecting other kalotermitids, such as Cryptotermes, Neotermes, and Rugitermes.

Using light traps over a year (December 2017 to November 2018) in a Caatinga area located in the municipality of São José dos Cordeiros, Paraíba-Brazil, the alates of T. bandeirai were collected five times; once in December, thrice in January, and once in February. This period represents a transition between the dry and rainy season in the area. For the Atlantic Forest, alates were recorded in wood in March, June, and December.

There are no records of Tauritermes bandeirai infestations in buildings, either in urban or agricultural environments. Other Tauritermes species infest sound, dry wood (RHS, unpubl.) and are even structural pests (Araujo and Fontes 1979).