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 Embiratermes festivellus (Silvestri, 1901) (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) and Spinitermes brevicornutus (Desneux, 1904) (Termitidae, Termitinae) were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Individual glandular openings are present in the upper part of E. festivellus 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. festivellus soldier.