SOLDIER HEAD MORPHOLOGY OF THE NEOTROPICAL TERMITES: EMBIRATERMES FESTIVELLUS SILVESTRI AND SPINITERMES BREVICORNUTUS (DESNEUX) (ISOPTERA, TERMITIDAE)

ABSTRACT. Heads of soldier termites belonging to the species Elllbiralermesjesli-vel/us (Silvestri, 1901) (Tennitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and Spinilermes brevicorl1l1ll1S (Desneux, 1904) (Termitidae, Termitinae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Individual glandular openings are present in the upper part of E.jeslivel/lls head and correspond to class 3 glandular cells. Campaniform sensillae occur in both termite heads, but this sensorial structure was not observed in the nasus extremity of E. jeslivel/lls soldier. KEY WORDS. Isoptera, Embiralerllles, Spinilermes, termite, campaniform sensi ll um In Isoptera, the soldier caste has a ro le in defense, and a variety of specialized morphological structures have evolved in this caste. For example, termite soldiers may have powerful mandib les, and/or they may have a frontal gland that produces chemical substances used in defense. Embiratermes festivellus (Si lvestri, 190 I) and Spinitermes brevicornutus (Desneux, 1904) are termite species found in areas of the Brazilian cerrado. In addition to distinctive mand ibles, the soldiers of E. festlvellus have a rostral tube which is used to el iminate the frontal secretion. The soldier of S. brevicornutus has slashing mandibles, with an angular motion that enables it cross over each other in the fight. Soldiers of E. festive/his have piercing mandib les that are common in mandibulate nasutes. J n some of these mandibulate nasutes, the piercing may be accompanied by chemicals entering the wound from the frontal gland (PRESTWICH 1984). In th is paper, the histology and anatomy of soldiers heads of both species, using the scanning electronic microscope, is focused