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Termitidae

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Termitidae is the largest family of termites consisting of 2,105 described species of which are commonly known as the higher termites.[1] 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. 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.[2][3] Around 60% of species rely on soil-feeding alone.[4]

Subfamilies

The family contains the following subfamilies:[5]

  • Termitidae Latreille, 1802
    • Subfamily Apicotermitinae Grassé & Noirot, 1954 [1955] (synonym: Indotermitidae Roonwal & Sen Sarma in Roonwal, 1958)
    • Subfamily Cubitermitinae Weidner, 1956
    • Subfamily Foraminitermitinae Holmgren, 1912 (synonym: Pseudomicrotermitinae Holmgren, 1912)
    • Subfamily Macrotermitinae Kemner, 1934, nomen protectum [ICZN 2003] (synonyms: Acanthotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926, nomen rejiciendum [ICZN 2003]; Odontotermitini Weidner, 1956
    • Subfamily Nasutitermitinae Hare, 1937
    • Subfamily Sphaerotermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004a
    • Subfamily Syntermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004a (synonym: Cornitermitinae Ensaf et al., 2004, nomen nudum)
    • Subfamily Termitinae Latreille, 1802 (synonyms: Microcerotermitinae Holmgren, 1910b; Amitermitinae Kemner, 1934 (disputed); Mirocapritermitinae Kemner, 1934; Mirotermitini Weidner, 1956; Capritermitini Weidner, 1956)

Identification

left

Imago forewing and hindwing scales either evenly or closely sized and not overlapping. Wing scale suture and veins are strongly sclerotized, veins reduced. Post-clypeus of workers and imagoes both swollen and protruding from head capsule. Pronotum is saddled with depressed anterior corners. Ocelli of imago typically (but not always) protruding above head capsule.

References

  1. ^ Constantino, Reginaldo. "Termite Database".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Ni, Jinfeng; Tokuda, Gaku (November 2013). "Lignocellulose-degrading enzymes from termites and their symbiotic microbiota". Biotechnology Advances. 31 (6): 838–850. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.04.005. ISSN 0734-9750.
  3. ^ Breznak JA, Brune A. 1994. Role of microorganisms in the digestion of lignocellulose by termites. Annual Review of Entomology 39(1):453–487
  4. ^ Josens, Guy; Makatia Wango, Solange (2019-02-01). "Niche Differentiation between Two Sympatric Cubitermes Species (Isoptera, Termitidae, Cubitermitinae) Revealed by Stable C and N Isotopes". Insects. 10 (2): 38. doi:10.3390/insects10020038. ISSN 2075-4450.
  5. ^ Engel, M.S. (2011). "Family-group names for termites (Isoptera), redux". ZooKeys (148): 171–184. doi:10.3897/zookeys.148.1682. PMC 3264418. PMID 22287896.
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Termitidae: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Termitidae is the largest family of termites consisting of 2,105 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. 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. Around 60% of species rely on soil-feeding alone.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
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wikipedia EN