Molecular characterization of Ceylonitermellus sahyadriensis Emerson, 1960 (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) - a rare species from Kerala part of Western Ghats, India

Abstract

Molecular characterization of Ceylonitermellus sahyadriensis (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae), using the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was studied, along with its morphological characteristics. The combined molecular analysis with its morphological figures provided a comprehensive species description, the first genetic profile of this species and giving a baseline data for the genus Ceylonitermellus. The phylogenetic analysis validated the species’ taxonomic position and revealed its evolutionary relationships within Nasutitermitinae. This integrated approach is particularly significant given the genus’s rarity and limited distribution, contributing to our understanding of termite diversity in the Oriental region. The molecular data generated will serve as a crucial reference for future systematic studies and species identification of this endemic genus.