Diet

• Tenuirostritermes is a genus of nasute termites in the family Termitidae and subfamily Nasutitermitinae.

• Like other wood- and litter-feeding nasute termites, its workers consume cellulose-rich material such as dead wood, fallen branches, bark and other plant debris.

• Digestion of cellulose depends on microorganisms living in the termite gut, allowing colonies to exploit relatively low-quality woody material.

• In the Zihuatanejo region, fallen wood, dead branches and other plant debris in tropical dry forest provide suitable food resources.

Range

• Tenuirostritermes is a Neotropical genus occurring primarily in Mexico and Central America, with its documented distribution extending into the southern United States.

• Tenuirostritermes is relevant to the termite fauna of the Zihuatanejo region.

Habitat

• Tenuirostritermes species are associated with terrestrial forest and woodland habitats where dead plant material is available.

• They can occur in soil, leaf litter, fallen wood and other protected locations containing cellulose-rich material.

• In Zihuatanejo, suitable habitat includes tropical dry forest, woodland, forest edges and secondary vegetation, particularly where fallen branches and decaying wood accumulate.

• Colonies generally remain concealed, with workers foraging through protected passages and within or beneath plant material.

Description

• Tenuirostritermes is a genus of small nasute termites whose soldiers are distinguished by a characteristic elongated, nozzle-like nasus.

• Soldiers are approximately 3–5 mm long, with the head somewhat longer than the nasus and a pronounced constriction immediately behind the antennal sockets.

• The nasus is directed slightly upward and has a narrow, pointed appearance; the mandibles are greatly reduced and inconspicuous.

• Soldiers have 12–13 antennal segments, while workers have 14.

• Workers are wingless, pale and soft-bodied, with rounded heads and the characteristic saddle-shaped pronotum typical of many termites in the group.