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Nasutitermitinae
The Nasutitermitinae is a near Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan subfamily of Termitidae, higher termites represented by 81 genera and 605 species. The highly derived soldier caste exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding Fontanellar gun, 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 exposed to the open. Genera The ''Termite Catalogue''Termite Catalogue (retrieved 7 July 2019)/ref> lists the following: References External links Tree of Life (TolWeb) * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q15213827 Termites ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fontanellar Gun
The fontanellar gun is a termite Defense in insects#Chemical defenses, defense mechanism in the form of a horn-like frontal projection (''nasus'') on the head of the soldier caste which is capable of expelling chemical weaponry at a distance, a trait exclusive to the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. It is primarily used to anti-predator adaptation, ward off predators such as ants. Physiology and usage The "gun" is a gland with a duct on the front of the head. It operates by a chemical reaction triggered when the termite contracts its Mandible (insect mouthpart), mandibular muscles. The termite is "able to eject the frontal gland material over a distance of many centimeters". The gland material is forced out through the front of the internal nose and its pores, which covers much of the termite's head. Termites have been shown to be extremely accurate with the gun, even though they are blind. The exact nature of how termites retain such accuracy and are able to orient themselves toward th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Constrictotermes
Constrictotermes is a genus of Neotropical higher termites within the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. They form large open-air foraging columns from which they travel to and from their sources of food, similar to the Indomalayan species of processionary termites. Species of this genus commonly build epigeal or arboreal nests and feed on a variety of lichens, rotted woods and mosses. Description Soldiers are monomorphic and identifiable with a notable constriction of the head behind the antenna sockets; the antenna have 13-14 articles, and the points of the mandibles are small. Species of this genus are distributed throughout the Neotropics, occurring primarily within South America and Central America; with one species, ''C. guantanamensis,'' being found within the extreme southeastern coast of Cuba. Within South America, Constrictotermes spp. can be found from the tropical rainforests of the Amazon to the xeric shrublands of Northeastern Brazil. As with all Nasutitermitinae ter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hospitalitermes
''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. Description The length of the workers and soldiers is about 5 mm. As with other genera in the subfamily, soldiers have a nasal tube from which, in case of danger, they shoot terpene-based repellents. They are one of the few species and genera of termites (''Hospitalitermes'', along with '' Lacessititermes'' and '' Longipeditermes'') that forage in large columns in the open air. In the species ''Hospitalitermes hospitalis'', the width of the columns is 20–30 mm (up to 8 termites in a row), they move away from the nest by an average of 29 m (up to 65 m), visi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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. Around 60% of species rely on soil-feeding alone. Systematics The family contains the following subfamilies: : Family Termitidae Latreille, 1802 :: subfamily Sphaerotermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004 :: subfamily Macrotermitinae Kemner, 1934, nomen protectum CZN 2003/small> (synonyms: Acanthotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926, nomen rejiciendum CZN 2003 Odontotermitini Weidner, 1956) :: subfamily Foraminitermitinae Holmgren, 1912 (synonym: Pseudomicrotermiti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceylonitermes
''Ceylonitermes'' is a genus of termites in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. They are found in South and Southeast Asia. Species There are two species: * ''Ceylonitermes escherichi'' (Holmgren, 1911) – Sri Lanka * ''Ceylonitermes indicola ''Ceylonitermes'' is a genus of termites in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. They are found in South and Southeast Asia. Species There are two species: * ''Ceylonitermes escherichi ''Ceylonitermes escherichi'' is a species of termite. It is ...'' Thakur, 1976 – India (Kerala), Indonesia (Sumatra) References Termites Termite genera Insects of Asia {{termite-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
