Evaluation of morphological characters in identification of soldiers and workers of Psammotermes hybostoma Desneux (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Sand dunes of Khouzestan province with 350/000 hectares cover 5.3% of the province total lands. Roads, farms, rural houses, pipelines and the other installations are always exposed to danger of sand dunes. Termites are one of the most important factors of destroying the trees which cause to fix them. Regarding to environmental adverse effects of omitting plant species, danger of sand dunes movement, and plantation costs in arduous paths through sandy lands, identification of these pests is the most necessary measurements. Upon the last report indicated to existence of six species of sand termites in Khouzestan province, however the species Psammotermes hybostoma Desneux also was collected and identified by this research as a new record for the province and confirmed by London Natural History Museum. In view of distribution, P. hybostoma as a predominant termite collected upon reports the sand termite living places are limited to deserts and sandy regions. Morphological investigations revealed that the workers by external form are in two shapes of big and small, and five different sizes for the soldiers. Changes domain relative variance, variance and average of different pieces of head and body of workers and soliders were evaluated and compared separately. Also evaluation of different morphological specification for workers and soldiers showed that the size of head to base of mandible had significatn coefficients (R2 = 0/88.7, 97.8) for workers and soliders respectively. This characters are the most appropriate specification for classification of these two castes.