termite

Also known as Isoptera, termites, isopterans

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.

OverviewAI-generated

Isoptera, commonly known as termites, is a taxon classified as a suborder or infraorder within the parent taxon Blattodea. The group is a subclass of social insects and includes common names such as termitter and termita. The taxon originated approximately 251 million years ago. It is distinct from thermite.

The Eastern Subterranean Termite is a species within this group, categorized under the iconic taxon Insecta. This species is not extinct and has recorded 11,345 observations on iNaturalist. The topic is featured in the Commons category Isoptera and is listed on the Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4 focus list. It is referenced by 1,642 other encyclopedia articles and has been described in the Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition.

Synthesized by Vinony from 22 facts across 4 sources: Wikidata, PubMed, iNaturalist, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.

Species

Eastern Subterranean Termite

species

Observations11,345

Figures 1–7.Sinqasapatermes sachae 1 soldier head in dorsal view 2 soldier head in profile 3 worker head in dorsal view 4 worker head in profile 5 worker left mandible in dorsal view 6 worker right mandible, showing molar plate in frontal view 7 worker right mandible in dorsal view.

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Research

4,574 papers

Termite evolution: mutualistic associations, key innovations, and the rise of Termitidae.ReviewCellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2021Chouvenc T, Šobotník J, Engel MS et al.DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03728-z
Ant-termite interactions: an important but under-explored ecological linkage.ReviewBiological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2020Tuma J, Eggleton P, Fayle TMDOI: 10.1111/brv.12577
Process and mechanism of termite impact on soil and plant.ReviewYing yong sheng tai xue bao = The journal of applied ecology · 2024Jiang C, Zeng XL, Jin YQ et al.DOI: 10.13287/j.1001-9332.202409.028
Termite Detection Techniques in Embankment Maintenance: Methods and Trends.ReviewSensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Li X, Zhang X, Dong S et al.DOI: 10.3390/s25144404
Termite-engineered microbial communities of termite nest structures: a new dimension to the extended phenotype.ReviewFEMS microbiology reviews · 2022Li H, Greening CDOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuac034
Termite's potential in solid waste management in Himachal Pradesh: A mini review.ReviewWaste management & research : the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA · 2021Sharma R, Kaur R, Rana N et al.DOI: 10.1177/0734242X20957394
Cooperation and conflict in termite societies.ReviewCurrent opinion in insect science · 2025Korb JDOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2025.101401
Termite dispersal is influenced by their diet.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2022Hellemans S, Šobotník J, Lepoint G et al.DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0246

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Encyclopedic overview

32 sections

Contents

Etymology
Taxonomy and evolutionary history
Early-diverging termite families
Neoisoptera
Distribution and diversity
Description
Caste system
Life cycle
Reproduction
Behaviour and ecology
Diet
Predators
Parasites, pathogens, and viruses
Locomotion and foraging
Competition
Communication
Relationship with other organisms
Relationship with the environment
Nests
Mounds
Shelter tubes
Relationship with humans
As pests
As food
In agriculture
In science and technology
In culture
See also
Notes
References
Cited literature
External links

Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattodea (the cockroaches). Termites were once classified in a separate order from cockroaches, but recent phylogenetic studies indicate that they evolved from cockroaches, as they are deeply nested within the group, and the sister group to wood-eating cockroaches of the genus Cryptocercus. Previous estimates suggested the divergence took place during the Jurassic or Triassic. More recent estimates suggest that they have an origin during the Late Jurassic, with later evidence revealing fossils from this time period.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “termite” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.