Amitermes californicus Banks, 1920 (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae) resurrected after ninety years of synonymy and A. floridensis Scheffrahn, 1989 synonymized into A. wheeleri (Desneux, 1906)

Amitermes californicus Banks, 1920 was described from southern California and southern Arizona but was later synonymized with A. wheeleri (Desneux, 1906) from Texas. Examination of material across the southwestern Nearctic and Mexico revealed that both are good species that are easily separated by the soldier mandibles. Amitermes floridensis Scheffrahn, 1989 is now a synonym of A. wheeleri. The establishment of A. wheeleri (=floridensis) in Florida is suggested to be the result of the ornamental palm trade from the southwestern United States. New collection records show that A. wheeleri has not been found in California.

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