A termite (Isoptera) in Late Cretaceous amber from Vendée, northwestern France

Abstract

A new genus and species of primitive termite is described and figured from the remains of an alate in Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian to Santonian) amber from the Department of Vendée in northwestern France. Termitotron vendeense n. gen. and sp. is distinguished on the basis of its head and wing morphology and exhibits unique features in the mouthparts relative to other Cretaceous termite genera. Brief comments are made on its possible affinities among the “Meiatermes grade” of Euisoptera.