''Coptotermes'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

termite Termites are a group of detritivore, detritophagous Eusociality, eusocial cockroaches which consume a variety of Detritus, decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, Plant litter, leaf litter, and Humus, soil humus. They are dist ...

s in the family

Heterotermitidae Heterotermitidae, or the subterranean termites, is a family of termites that was elevated to family level from the subfamily '' Heterotermitinae'', formerly nested in ''Rhinotermitidae Rhinotermitidae, sensu novo are a family (biology), family ...

. Many of the roughly 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

. Worker termites from this genus forage underground and move about in roofed tunnels that they build along the surface. In Australia, ''Coptotermes''

colonies A colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule, which rules the territory and its indigenous peoples separated from the foreign rulers, the colonizer, and their '' metropole'' (or "mother country"). This separated rule was often or ...

sometimes host a

parasitic Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives (at least some of the time) on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The ent ...

genus of termites, '' Ahamitermes''. The

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County * Host Island, in the Wilhelm Archipelago, Antarctica People * ...

and the parasite dwell in separate parts of the mound nest and are mutually antagonistic. The ''Ahamitermes'' species live in the innermost parts of the nest and feed on the "carton" material with which the galleries are lined, which consists of soil particles, chewed wood, and cellulose, bound together with saliva and faeces. They are thus dependent on their hosts for both their food and their home and are not found in any other situations.

Species

This is an incomplete list of species: *'' Coptotermes acinaciformis'' *'' Coptotermes brunneus'' *'' Coptotermes ceylonicus'' *'' Coptotermes curvignathus'' Holmgren *''

Coptotermes elisae ''Coptotermes elisae'', the Papuan plantation termite, is a species of termite in the family Heterotermitidae. It is native to New Guinea, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, where it attacks and kills living trees and damages structural timbers. De ...

'' *''

Coptotermes emersoni ''Coptotermes emersoni'', is a species of subterranean termite of the genus '' Coptotermes''. It is native to India, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Though it is a wood destroying termite, it was first found from an electrical wire case in the National ...

'' *''

Coptotermes formosanus ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Heterotermitidae. Many of the roughly 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergroun ...

'' - Formosan subterranean termite *''

Coptotermes frenchi ''Coptotermes frenchi'', the Australian subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Heterotermitidae. Termites are social insects and ''C. frenchi'' usually builds its communal nest in the root crown of a tree. From this, a netw ...

'' *''

Coptotermes gaurii ''Coptotermes gaurii'', is a species of subterranean termite of the genus '' Coptotermes''. It is native to South India and Sri Lanka. It is a serious pest of tea Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over ...

'' *''

Coptotermes gestroi ''Coptotermes gestroi'', commonly known as the Asian subterranean termite is a small species of termite that lives underground. Both this species and the Formosan subterranean termite (''Coptotermes formosanus'') are destructive pests native to ...

'' - Asian subterranean termite *''

Coptotermes havilandi ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Heterotermitidae. Many of the roughly 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergroun ...

'' *''

Coptotermes heimi ''Coptotermes heimi'' is a species of termite in the family Heterotermitidae. It is found in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and lives wholly underground. Distribution and habitat ''Coptotermes heimi'' occurs in Pakistan, the Indian states of Raj ...

'' *''

Coptotermes kalshoveni ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Heterotermitidae. Many of the roughly 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergroun ...

'' *''

Coptotermes lacteus ''Coptotermes lacteus'', the milk termite, is a species of termite in the family Heterotermitidae, native to Australia. These termites are social insects and build a communal nest in the form of a mound. From this, a network of galleries extends ...

'' *'' Coptotermes parvulus'' Holmgren

References

{{Authority control Termite genera