''Termitaradus '' is a small tropicopolitan

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 ...

true bugs Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising more than 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. They ...

placed in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Termitaphididae Termitaphididae, occasionally called termite bugs, is a small tropicopolitan family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other ...

. As is typical for the family, living members of ''Termitaradus '' are small, being an average of to , and flattened with laminae extending out from each body segment giving a round scale like appearance. The same is true for the extinct species with the exception of ''T. protera'' which reaches in length. All members of Termitaphididae are

inquiline In zoology, an inquiline (from Latin ''inquilinus'', "lodger" or "tenant") is an animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of an animal of another species. For example, some organisms, such as insects, may live in the ...

s lodging in the nests of host species of

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, with ''Termitaradus '' species known only from the family

Rhinotermitidae Rhinotermitidae, sensu novo are a family (biology), family of Neoisoptera, Neoisopteran termites represented by genera formerly held within the now historical subfamily Rhinotermitinae. The soldiers of Rhinotermitidae notably possess a labral bru ...

. Though considered a separate family in Aradoidea it has been suggested by Drs David Grimaldi and Michael Engel in 2008 that Termataphididae may in fact be highly derived members of

Aradidae Aradidae is a family of true bugs (Heteroptera). Family members are commonly known as flat bugs due to their dorsoventrally flattened bodies. With few exceptions, these cryptic insects are of no economic importance. Aradids are 3 to 11 mm long ...

. The second genus placed in Termitaphididae, '' Termitaphis'', contains the monotypic species '' Termitaphis circumvallata'' which inhabits nests of

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 lackin ...

(termites) in

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

Species

The nine living species are found worldwide in the tropical regions of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia while three extinct species are known from

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...

Dominican amber Dominican amber is amber from the Dominican Republic derived from resin of the extinct tree '' Hymenaea protera''. Dominican amber differentiates itself from Baltic amber by being nearly always transparent, and it has a higher number of fossil in ...

and the third from Late Oligocene to Early Miocene Mexican amber. *'' T. annandalei'' *'' T. australiensis'' *

† A dagger, obelisk, or obelus is a typographical mark that usually indicates a footnote if an asterisk has already been used. The symbol is also used to indicate death (of people) or extinction (of species or languages). It is one of the mo ...

'' T. avitinquilinus'' (

Dominican Amber Dominican amber is amber from the Dominican Republic derived from resin of the extinct tree '' Hymenaea protera''. Dominican amber differentiates itself from Baltic amber by being nearly always transparent, and it has a higher number of fossil in ...

) *†'' T. dominicanus'' (Dominican amber) *'' T. guianae'' *'' T. jamaicensis'' *'' T. mexicana'' *†'' T. mitnicki'' (Dominican amber) *'' T. panamensis'' *'' T. poleoae'' *†'' T. protera'' (

Mexican amber Mexican amber, also known as Chiapas Amber is amber found in Mexico, created during the Early Miocene and middle Miocene epochs of the Cenozoic Era in southwestern North America. As with other ambers, a wide variety of taxa have been found as in ...

) *'' T. subafra'' *'' T. trinidadensis''

References

Aradoidea {{Heteroptera-stub