A giant termite of the genus Gyatermes from the late Miocene of Nagano Prefecture, Japan (Isoptera)

Abstract

A new species of the termite genus Gyatermes Engel & Gross (Archotermopsidae) is described and figured from a beautifully preserved forewing in late Neogene sediments of Nagano Prefecture, central Japan. The approximately 27-mm long forewing of Gyatermes naganoensis Engel & Tanaka, new species, is preserved in Late Miocene (late Messinian) mudstone of the Ogawa Formation (ca. 6 Ma), and is distinguished from its slightly older and larger congener G. styriensis Engel & Gross, from the early Tortonian of Styria, Austria. Comments are provided regarding the paleoclimatic implications of a giant termite in the Miocene fauna of Nagano.