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Abstract
Using morphological assessments and phylogenetic inference, we described a new subterranean termite species in the genus
Reticulitermesin southern California:
Reticulitermes rustisp. nov. Genetic analyses utilizing 3 mitochondrial loci (
16S rRNA,
COI, and
COII) and 7 microsatellites successfully distinguished the new species from 2 other
Reticulitermesfound in southern California:
R. hesperusBanks and
R. tibialisBanks. Empirical measurements of key morphological characters further support the delineation of
R. rustias a new species. While
R. rustiis genetically closer to
R. tibialis, its soldier caste is morphologically similar to that of
R. hesperus. We recommend confirming species identification by sequencing the COI or COII region. The integration of biological, genetic, and morphological data robustly supports the recognition of
R. rustias a distinct new species in southern California.
Citation
Chen, Joanne Tzu-Chia; Nelson, Lori; Rugman-Jones, Paul F; Tseng, Shu-Ping; Sutherland, Andrew M; Choe, Dong-Hwan; Haverty, Michael I; Lee, Chow-Yang; Walker, Kathleen. 2025. Description of a new species of subterranean termite in the genus
Reticulitermes (Blattodea: Heterotermitidae) from southern California. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 118(4): 315-330. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saaf019.
