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Termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial insects 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 and often unpigmented worker caste for which they have been commonly termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants, being more closely related to ...
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 and archaea.
Trinervitermes trinervoides is a species of termite belonging to family Termitidae. It is native to and widespread in southern Africa where it inhabits mesic to semi-arid grasslands. Due to the snout on the head of soldiers, and their grass collecting habits, they are known as snouted harvester termites.
Termites are social insects with a caste system, and individuals are either workers, soldiers, or reproductives. [3] A C. elisae worker measures between 7.8 and 9.0 mm (0.31 and 0.35 in) in length and has a rounded head with large eyes. The pronotum is broad and both the head and it are densely hairy.
Microhodotermes viator, commonly called the southern harvester termite, [2] the Karoo harvesting termite, [3] the wood-eating harvester termite, [4] houtkapper (lit. ' wood cutter '), and stokkiesdraer (lit. ' stick carrier '), [5] is a species of harvester termite native to the desert shrubland of Namibia and South Africa.
Nests of Macrotermes michaelseni initially consists of a number of chambers and tunnels completely underground. A mound is built above the ground only in a mature colony, which in time can become an enormous structure, with ridges, pinnacles and chimneys, [4] up to 4 m (13 ft) tall covering an area of up to 50 m 2 (540 sq ft).
The termites are found in arid habitats, [3] particularly the Colorado and Sonoran Deserts. They also feed on structural timber in buildings, fences and utility poles. This is one of the commonest underground termites in Arizona, and is able to feed in drier locations than other subterranean desert species. [1]
Amitermes hastatus (black mound termites) from the Western Cape region of South Africa repairing a section of their distinctive black mounds. Most of the termites are soldiers. Amitermes is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae. Species are found in a range of habitats including deserts and rainforests.