Open Access

Rodolf H. Scheffrahn, Jan Krecek

• A taxonomic revision of the genus Cryptotermes occurring in the West Indies is given based on recent collections from the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas. Seventeen indigenous and four nonindigenous species are described from external morphology ofthe soldier. The imago caste is also described for all but one species. The indigenous Cryptotermes comprise twelve new species, including C. aequacornis, C. cryptognathus, C. cylindroceps, C. cymatofrons, C. darlingtonae, C.juliani, C. mangoldi, C. nitens, C.parvifrons, C. rotundiceps, C. spathifrons, and C. undulans. Five indigenous species are redescribed, including C. cavifrons Banks, C. chasei Scheffrahn, C. hemicyclius Bacchus, C. pyrodomus Bacchus, and C. rhicnocephalus Bacchus. The imagos of C. pyrodomus and C. rhicnocephalus are described for the first time. The four non-indigenous species are redescribed including C. brevis (Walker), C. domesticus (Haviland), C. dudleyi Banks, and C. havilandi (Sj6stedt). A report of C. domesticus in the West Indies could not be confirmed. Distribution maps and a soldier identification key are included for all Cryptotermes in the West Indies and Florida.