''Trinervitermes'' is a

termite Termites are small insects that live in colonies and have distinct castes ( eusocial) and feed on wood or other dead plant matter. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blat ...

genus belonging to family

Termitidae Termitidae is the largest family of termites whose members are commonly known as the higher termites. They are evolutionarily the most specialised termite group, with their highly compartmentalized hindgut lacking the flagellated protozoans comm ...

. Members are native to the

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by thei ...

. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are mainly nocturnal. The soldier caste has atrophied mandibles and a fontanelle squirt gun on the frons.

Diterpene Diterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of four isoprene units, often with the molecular formula C20H32. They are biosynthesized by plants, animals and fungi via the HMG-CoA reductase pathway, with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate being ...

s and

monoterpene Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units and have the molecular formula C10H16. Monoterpenes may be linear (acyclic) or contain rings (monocyclic and bicyclic). Modified terpenes, such as those containing oxygen func ...

s are released to deter ants and smaller predators, but these are not effective against larger mammalian predators. Due to the

snout A snout is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw. In many animals, the structure is called a muzzle, rostrum, or proboscis. The wet furless surface around the nostrils of the nose of many mammals is ...

on the head of soldiers and their grass-collecting habits, they are known as snouted harvester termites.

Species

Species include: * ''

Trinervitermes biformis The snouted harvester termite (''Trinervitermes biformis'') is a species of mound building termite in the genus ''Trinervitermes'', native to India and Sri Lanka. The type species was described from the Bandarawela area of Sri Lanka. It is a p ...

'' (Wasmann, 1902) – India and Sri Lanka * ''

Trinervitermes dispar ''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are main ...

'' (Sjöstedt) – East Africa to South Africa * ''

Trinervitermes rapulum ''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are main ...

'' (Sjöstedt) – East Africa to southern Africa * ''

Trinervitermes rhodesiensis ''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are main ...

'' (Sjöstedt) – East Africa to southern Africa * '' Trinervitermes trinervoides'' (Sjöstedt, 1911) – South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique * ''

Trinervitermes rubidus ''Trinervitermes rubidus'', is a species of mound building termite of the genus ''Trinervitermes ''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store gras ...

'' (Hagen, 1859) – Sri Lanka

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q16642719 Termite genera Insects of Africa Insects of Asia