The termite family Serritermitidae (Isoptera). American Museum novitates ; no. 2570

Abstract

"The monotypic termite family Serritermitidae Holmgren and Serritermes serrifer (Hagen and Bates) from Brazil are described and figured, with synonymies and bibliography. The imago, soldier, worker, and nymph are compared with all other families of Isoptera and related genera. New characters of Glossotermes Emerson and Macrorhinotermes Holmgren are given. Primitive and derivative, homologous and analogous characters and their use for phylogenetic and evolutionary inference are discussed in detail. External anatomy, glands, intestines, biogeography, ecology, nests, food, and the coevolution of termites and intestinal zooflagellates are discussed. Also included are hypotheses on the phylogeny of all termite familes including Serritermitidae, genetic persistence and change in Isoptera during 200 million years, and the natural selection of unitary social populations. Hypotheses on the Mesozoic origin of termite families are presented, based upon paleogeography, continental drift, and comparative morphology of living and fossil genera"--P. [1].