Here's another Termite's Corner, this time we'll learn about a nice species from south America, Spinitermes trispinosus!
These moderately sized soil-feeding termites are quite common in places like French Guyana and can be often found living inside the nest material of other species, though they can also live independently. Their soldiers are equipped with huge and very sharp slashing-type mandibles that are capable of fully crossing over each other, giving them a powerful cutting bite, and also sports a prominent horn-like frontal projection that to house a significant portion of their frontal gland, from which a chemical fluid is produced and then secreted from a small pore (the fontanelle) in case of need; interestingly this pore is not located on the tip of the projection but at its base, and as such is most likely intended more to coat the labrum and the mandibles in defensive fluid rather than to apply it directly on the enemy. Spinitermes is also unique for being the only known termite genus whose soldiers reverted from snapping-type mandibles back to generally less derived slashing-type ones.
Just like the vast majority of termites these do no harm to human activities and are only a beneifcial part of their habitat.
Two workers and a soldier of Spinitermes trispinosus, showing well the impressive mandibles and well-developed frontal projection of the latter.
Pic by Dr. Jan Sobotnik; French Guyana.
Spinitermes trispinosus at a breach in their nest. Note the peculiarly-shaped labrum of the soldiers, very evident in the one on the left.
Pic by Dr. Jan Sobotnik; French Guyana.
And that's another Termite's Corner! See you at the next one!
