Constrictotermes is a genus of
neotropical
The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes the tropical terrestrial ecoregions of the Americas and the entire South American temperate zone.
Definition
In bi ...
higher termites within the subfamily
Nasutitermitinae
The Nasutitermitinae are a subfamily of higher termites that includes more than 80 genera. They are most recognisable by the more highly derived soldier caste which exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding fontanellar process on the head ...
. They form large open-air foraging columns from which they travel to and from their sources of food, similar to the
Indomalayan
The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia.
Also called the Oriental realm by biogeographers, Indomalaya spreads all over the Indi ...
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 termites, the soldiers are capable of shooting a noxious terpene based chemical repellant from their
fontanellar gun that solidifies when exposed to air.
Species
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Constrictotermes cavifrons
''Constrictotermes cavifrons'' is a species of Amazonian nasute termite within the genus ''Constrictotermes''. It forms large and diurnal open-foraging trails to and from its sources of food which consists largely of lichens and other microepi ...
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Constrictotermes cyphergaster
''Constrictotermes cyphergaster'' is a neotropical species of open-air foraging nasute termite within the genus ''Constrictotermes''. This species is distributed widely throughout South America and lives within xeric habitats such as the savann ...
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Constrictotermes guantanamensis
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 process ...
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Constrictotermes latinotus
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 process ...
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Constrictotermes rupestris
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 process ...
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Constrictotermes cacaoensis
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 process ...
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References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q16552264
Insects described in 1910
Termites