Termitaphididae, occasionally called termite bugs,
is a small
tropicopolitan family of
true bugs placed in the superfamily
Aradoidea
Aradoidea is a superfamily of true bugs. The Piesmatidae, usually placed in the Lygaeoidea
The Lygaeoidea are a sizeable Taxonomic rank, superfamily of true bugs, containing seed bugs and allies, in the order Hemiptera. There are about 16 fam ...
. Typically members of Termitaphididae are small, being an average of -, and flattened with laminae extending out from each body segment giving a round scale like appearance. Currently the family contains two genera and twelve known species.
Members of Termitaphididae are
inquilines lodging in the nests of host species of
termite families
Termitidae and
Rhinotermitidae. Though considered a separate family in Aradoidea it has been suggested by Drs
David Grimaldi and
Michael Engel
Michael S. Engel, FLS, FRES (born September 24, 1971) is an American paleontologist and entomologist, notable for contributions to insect evolutionary biology and classification. In connection with his studies he has undertaken field expedit ...
in 2008 that Termataphididae may in fact be highly derived members of
Aradidae
Aradidae is a family of flat bugs, and a member of true bugs (Heteroptera). The common name for these insects refers to their dorsoventrally flattened bodies. With few exceptions, these cryptic insects are of no economic importance.
This famil ...
.
Of the thirteen known species one ''
Termitaphis circumvallata'' belongs to the monotypic genus ''
Termitaphis'' and four of the remaining eleven species in ''
Termitaradus
''Termitaradus '' is a small tropicopolitan genus of true bugs placed in the family Termitaphididae. As is typical for the family, living members of ''Termitaradus '' are small, being an average of to , and flattened with laminae extending out ...
'' are extinct, having only been found in amber.
The living species are found worldwide in the tropical regions of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
References
Aradoidea
Heteroptera families
{{Heteroptera-stub