Rhinotermitidae · Lablypedia

In a nutshell

Rhinotermitidae is a family of wood-soil interface feeding termites commonly known as the Subterranean termites. Many members of this family are known pests that can cause extensive damage to buildings or other wooden structures. Most species establish colonies in wood before migrating to the ground to create diffuse nests connecting to multiple pieces of wood, with some taxa such as Coptotermitinae creating mounds or centralized carton nests within wood. All members forage via shelter tubes through the soil to sources of food. In addition, Rhinotermitidae are known for having a higher level of social complexity as compared to other termites. Communication takes place through chemical activity, more specifically through traces of cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC), or semiochemicals, acting as pheromones to send signals to the king and queen of the nest (Anne-Geneviève Bagnères; Edward Vargo, 2019). About 345 species are recognized, among these are severe pests such as Coptotermes formosanus, Coptotermes gestroi, and Reticulitermes flavipes.

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Subfamilies and Genera

WikiSpecies and the Termite Catalogue list the following:

Coptotermitinae

Auth.: Holmgren, 1910

Coptotermes

Heterotermitinae

Auth.: Froggatt, 1897 (synonym Leucotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a)

Heterotermes
Reticulitermes
Tsaitermes

Prorhinotermitinae

Auth.: Quennedey & Deligne, 1975

Prorhinotermes

Psammotermitinae

Auth.: Holmgren, 1911 (Note: Holmgren included this taxon in "family Mesotermitidae")

Psammotermes

Rhinotermitinae

Auth.: Froggatt, 1897

Acorhinotermes
Dolichorhinotermes
Macrorhinotermes
Parrhinotermes
Rhinotermes
Schedorhinotermes

Termitogetoninae

Auth.: Holmgren, 1910

Termitogeton

incertae sedis

†Zophotermes

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