Termitidae

Termitidae is the largest family of termites consisting of 2,105 described species of which are commonly known as the higher termites. They are evolutionarily the most specialised termite group, with their highly compartmentalized hindgut lacking the flagellated protozoans common to "lower termites", which are instead replaced by bacteria and archaea. Whereas lower termites are restricted mostly to woody tissue, higher termites have diverse diets consisting of wood, grass, leaf litter, fungi, lichen, faeces, humus and soil. Around 60% of species rely on soil-feeding alone.

Subfamilies
The family contains the following subfamilies:


 * Termitidae Latreille, 1802
 * Subfamily Apicotermitinae Grassé & Noirot, 1954 [1955] (synonym: Indotermitidae Roonwal & Sen Sarma in Roonwal, 1958 )
 * Subfamily Cubitermitinae Weidner, 1956
 * Subfamily Engelitermitinae Romero Arias, Roisin, & Scheffrahn, 2024
 * Subfamily Foraminitermitinae Holmgren, 1912 (synonym: Pseudomicrotermitinae Holmgren, 1912 )
 * Subfamily Macrotermitinae Kemner, 1934, nomen protectum [ICZN 2003] (synonyms: Acanthotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926, nomen rejiciendum [ICZN 2003] ; Odontotermitini Weidner, 1956
 * Subfamily Nasutitermitinae Hare, 1937
 * Subfamily Sphaerotermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004
 * Subfamily Syntermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004 (synonym: Cornitermitinae Ensaf et al., 2004, nomen nudum )
 * Subfamily Termitinae Latreille, 1802 (synonyms: Microcerotermitinae Holmgren, 1910b ; Amitermitinae Kemner, 1934 (disputed); Mirocapritermitinae Kemner, 1934 ; Mirotermitini Weidner, 1956 ; Capritermitini Weidner, 1956 )

Identification


Imago forewing and hindwing scales either evenly or closely sized and non-overlapping. Both forewing and hindwing scales have a developed suture with strongly sclerotized and reduced veins. Ocelli of imago typically (but not always) protruding above head capsule.

Pronotum of all castes is "saddled", with a pronounced anterior lobe as a result of the pronotum's anterior corners being depressed. Postclypeus of the worker and imago both swollen and protruding from head capsule