We present a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Syntermitinae, including representatives of all genera of the subfamily, along with all 12 species assigned formerly to the genus Armitermes Wasmann (Termitidae, Syntermitinae), and 4 new species described herein. Syntermitinae was recovered as a natural group and the hypothesis that the frontal tube indicates convergence between Syntermitinae and Nasutitermitinae was corroborated. Also, several diagnostic characters proposed in the original description of Syntermitinae are discussed. Alongside the phylogenetic study, a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Armitermes was carried out, resulting in division of the genus into four genera. Taxonomic novelties are: Armitermes now includes A. armiger (Motschulsky), A. bidentatus Rocha & Cancello sp.n. and A. spininotus Rocha & Cancello sp.n.; Silvestritermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes S. euamignathus (Silvestri) comb.n., S. lanei (Canter) comb.n., S. gnomus (Constantino) comb.n., S. duende Rocha & Cancello sp.n., S. minutus (Emerson) comb.n., S. almirsateri Rocha & Cancello sp.n. and S. holmgreni (Snyder) comb.n.; Uncitermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes U. teevani (Emerson) comb.n.; Mapinguaritermes Rocha & Cancello gen.n. includes M. peruanus (Holmgren) comb.n. and M. grandidens (Emerson) comb.n. A new synonymy is proposed for A. cerradoensis Mathews under S. euamignathus. All soldiers are described and illustrated, as are the mandibles and digestive tract of the worker and the imago caste, when available. We provide a dichotomous key, based on soldiers, for all genera of Syntermitinae, and distribution maps and dichotomous keys, based on soldiers, for the species of Armitermes and all the new genera described herein.

The subfamily Syntermitinae comprises a group of Neotropical termites with 18 genera and 101 species described. It has been considered a natural group, but relationships among the genera within the subfamily remain uncertain, and some genera appear to be non-monophyletic. Here, we provide a comprehensive phylogeny including six Neotropical species of Termitinae as outgroup, 42 Syntermitinae species as ingroup, 92 morphological characters (from external and internal anatomy of soldier and worker castes) and 117 molecular sequences (109 obtained for this study and 8 from GenBank) of 4 gene regions (41 and 22 from Cytochrome Oxidase I and II respectively, 19 from Cytochrome b, and 35 from 16S rDNA). Morphological and molecular data were analyzed in combination, with the Bayesian inference method, and the important aspects of termite biology, defense and feeding habits are discussed based on the resulting tree. Although useful for providing diagnostic characters, the morphology of the soldier caste reveals several cases of convergence; whereas the feeding habit shows indications of evolutionary significance.

This is a taxonomic revision of the Neotropical genus Orthognathotermes Holmgren, 1910 (Termitidae, Termitinae), previously with nine species: O. aduncus, O. brevipilosus, O. gibberorum, O. heberi, O. humilis, O. insignis, O. macrocephalus, O. orthognathus and O. wheeleri. We redescribe these species and describe six new species: O. longilamina sp. nov., O. mirim sp. nov., O. okeyma sp. nov., O. pilosus sp. nov., O. tubesauassu sp. nov., and O. uncimandibularis sp. nov., based on soldiers and, when possible, imago castes along with the first description of imagos of O. wheeleri and O. heberi. We present a key for soldier identification and distribution maps for all species.

Acangaobitermes krishnai gen. et sp. n., is described here, based on soldiers and workers collected in Brazil. Some characteristics suggest a close kinship with Noirotitermes Cancello & Myles, and both genera share the following traits absent in all other Syntermitinae: the microsculpturing on the soldier head capsule surface with internal granulations; the piercing mandibles with a single very reduced marginal tooth and the worker very similar in both genera. The most conspicuous differences between Acangaobitermes and Noirotitermes are the shape of the soldier head, the frontal tube and pronotum. The shape of the soldier head in Noirotitermes is unusual, with a very broad and short frontal tube, four conspicuous protuberances like sharp corners at the rear, while in the new genus the posterior contour of the head is devoid of these protuberances. The frontal tube of Acangaobitermes is elongate and conical, while in Noirotitermes it is short and very broad. The pronotum of Acangaobitermes is saddle-shaped as is usual in other Syntermitinae, while it is aberrant in Noirotitermes.

In this study we compare the richness, abundance and guild composition between two different reforestations in the meridional part of the Amazon. We test the hypothesis that the termite community is affected by the identity of the tree species used in reforestation. More precisely, we test whether the reforestation of a native species of fig (Ficus sp) is more efficient in restoring biodiversity than reforestation of exotic teak trees (Tectona grandis). We sampled the termite community in these reforested areas and three other different ''control'' areas: active pastures, abandoned pastures (secondary forests) and mature pristine forest. We found that the distance of reforestation from the nearest primary forest had no effect on termite biodiversity, at the scale studied. But, as expected, richness and the abundance were higher in the mature forest, intermediate in reforestation areas, and lower in secondary forest and pastures. In fact, the only studied habitat with biodiversity comparable to the mature forest was the fig plantations. The guild composition in reforested areas was also similar to that of the mature forest. The diversity and abundance of humivorous termites was particularly pronounced in the reforestation areas compared with pasture or secondary forests. The humivorous guild provides important functional services, since its action makes nitrogen and other nutrients available to the plants along ecological succession. Our results show that reforestation is a valuable strategy in restoring termite diversity and recovering the ecosystem services they provide.