Termites

Termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, and soil humus. They are distinguished by their moniliform antennae and the soft-bodied, unpigmented worker caste for which they have been commonly termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants but highly derived cockroaches. About 2,997 extant species are currently described, 2,125 of which are members of the family Termitidae.

Termitidae is the largest family of termites consisting of 2,125 described species of which are commonly known as the higher termites. They are evolutionarily the most specialised termite group, with their highly compartmentalized hindgut lacking the flagellated protozoans common to "lower termites", which are instead replaced by bacteria and archaea. Whereas lower termites are restricted mostly to woody tissue, higher termites have diverse diets consisting of wood, grass, leaf litter, fungi, lichen, faeces, humus and soil.Breznak JA, Brune A. 1994. Role of microorganisms in the digestion of l

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hive of termites

Kalotermitidae (drywood termites), are a basal family with a roughly cosmopolitan circumtropical distribution. With 21 genera and 419 species, it is the second most diverse termite family after the Termitidae. The majority of members are functionally specialists of sound wood - though not necessarily dry wood. Hence, while not all Kalotermitidae taxa are commonly referred to as drywood termites, the name is commonly used to refer to the family itself. The family contains notable pest taxa such as Cryptotermes brevis and Incisitermes minor.

Rhinotermitidae sensu novo are a family of Neoisopteran termites formerly represented by taxa known as Subterranean termites (Heterotermitidae, Psammotermitidae, etc...) but is now only represented by genera within the historical subfamily Rhinotermitinae. The soldiers of Rhinotermitidae notably possess a labral brush, a highly modified projection of the labrum which channels the fontanellar fluid onto a hairy tip, smearing the fluid onto threats. The Rhinotermitidae have a wide distribution, being found from the Neotropics to the Indomalayan, Afrotropical, Australasian, and Palearctic (Sino-J

thumb|upright=1.35|Adaptations for myrmecophagy in mammals, such as long tongues and strong digging forelimbs, have [[evolved convergently at least 12 times.]] Myrmecophagy (from Ancient Greek μύρμηξ múrmēx, 'ant', and φαγεῖν phageîn, 'to eat') is a feeding behavior in animals, defined by the consumption of termites or ants—particularly as pertaining to those animal species whose diets are largely, or completely, composed of these insect types. Notable myrmecophages include the three genera of anteaters, aardvarks, numbats, echidnas, some armadillos, and pangolins, as well as some members of t

The Hodotermitidae (from Greek ὁδός (hodós), travelling; Latin termes, woodworm) are a basal Old World family of termites known as the harvester termites. They are distinguished by the serrated inner edge of their mandibles, and their functional compound eyes which are present in all castes. They forage for grass at night and during daylight hours, and the pigmented workers are often observed outside the nest. Their range includes the deserts and savannas of Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. Their English name refers to their habit of collecting grass, which is not unique to the fam

termite species

Termopsidae is an extinct family of termites in the order Blattodea. The five extant genera formerly included in Termopsidae (Archotermopsis, Hodotermopsis, Porotermes, Stolotermes, and Zootermopsis) now belong in their own distinct families, leaving only extinct taxa in Termopsidae.

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Mastotermitidae is a family of termites with one sole living species, Mastotermes darwiniensis which is found only in northern Australia. The remaining genera of this family are only known from the fossil record.

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Macrotermes is a genus of termites belonging to the subfamily Macrotermitinae and widely distributed throughout Africa and South-East Asia. Well-studied species include Macrotermes natalensis and M. bellicosus.

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Hospitalitermes is an Asian–Papuan genus of lichen-eating termite in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. There are 37 species currently listed, of which most are recognized for their extensive surface foraging columns. Due to their conspicuous foraging activities, they are commonly known as processionary or marching termites. They often inhabit cavities inside of living trees excavated by other species of termite.

species of termite

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Serritermitidae is a family of termites belonging to the infraorder Isoptera in the order Blattodea. The family includes only a few species, which live in South America.

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Mastotermes is a genus of termites. The sole living species is Mastotermes darwiniensis, found only in northern Australia. A number of extinct taxa are known from fossils. It is a very peculiar insect, the most primitive termite alive. As such, it shows notable similarities to cockroaches in the family Cryptocercidae, the termites' closest relatives. These similarities include the anal lobe of the wing and the laying of eggs in bunches, rather than singly. The termites were traditionally placed in the Exopterygota, but such an indiscriminate treatment makes that group a paraphyletic grade of b

The Macrotermitinae, the fungus-growing termites, constitute a subfamily of the family Termitidae that is only found within the Old World tropics.

Marginitermes is a genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae. There are at least three described species in Marginitermes.

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genus of insects

species of termite

The Nasutitermitinae is a near cosmopolitan subfamily of higher termites represented by 81 genera and 605 species. The highly derived soldier caste exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding fontanellar process on the head, known as the nasus, from which they can "shoot" chemical weaponry. Notable genera include the notorious wood-eating Nasutitermes, and the conspicuous Hospitalitermes and Constrictotermes, both distinguished for their brazen habit of forming extensive foraging trails out in the open.

species of termite

Termitinae is a diverse subfamily of higher termites represented by 23 genera and 104 species.http://164.41.140.9/catal/statistics.php?filtro=extant

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Stylotermitidae is a family of termites in the order Blattodea. There are two extinct and one extant genera in Stylotermitidae, with more than 50 described species.

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Archotermopsidae is a family of termites in the order Blattodea, known as dampwood termites, formerly included within the family Termopsidae. They constitute a small and rather primitive family with two extant genera and 5 living species. They may rarely infest structures but do not usually do so, nor do they cause extensive damage to buildings or other man-made structures unless said structure has been sufficiently damaged such as by water. As their name implies, they eat wood that is not dried out, perhaps even rotting, and are consequently of little use to humans.

Amitermitinae is a diverse subfamily of termites in the family Termitidae. The subfamily was revived as a valid taxon by Hellemans et al., 2024, and is represented by 14 genera and 194 species. http://164.41.140.9/catal/statistics.php?filtro=extant

Tenuirostritermes is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae. There are about five described species in Tenuirostritermes.

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Gnathamitermes is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae. There are about six described species in Gnathamitermes.

species of termite