Rhinotermitidae

Reticulitermes banyulensis

The Rhinotermitidae are a family of termites ( Isoptera ). It is distributed worldwide.

Features

This family includes termite species in which the soldiers at the head wearing an opening, called a fontanelle. Can range through a special, unpaired gland in the head capsule, the frontal gland is called, but to the abdomen, toxic or highly sticky secretions can be produced. These are sprayed or thrown through the fontanelle at enemies. In addition, the mandibles can be used to teach the enemies of bite wounds through which the toxic secretions from entering.

In the subfamily Rhinotermitinae species have a long brush-like labrum, with which they can lubricate toxic fluids into the wound after a bite.

All species of the Rhinotermitidae have eight Malpighian tubes as Exkretionsorgan and various short sections before the board of the rectum, where the wood digestion takes place with the help of symbiotic protozoa, bacteria and archaea.

Dissemination

The Rhinotermitidae family is one of the most widely used family termites. Its distribution area covers the tropical, subtropical and temperate zones. Most of the 345 species of this family live in warm areas, but there are also seven species in Europe before, so including in Southern England and Germany. In the U.S., they are represented in all states except Alaska.

Way of life

The buildings of this termite family are still created in the ground, but many species feed on wood. The wood-eating species can serious damage to houses or other wooden structures cause. It can be distinguished 345 species, among which are also the ranked as a pest species Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes gestroi. Other species, especially from the subfamily Psammotermitinae, eat grasses and are thought to cause the so-called fairy circles in grasslands.

System

Rhinotermitidae Froggatt, 1897

• Subfamily Coptotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a (synonym Arrhinotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926) Coptotermes

• Straight Termes
• Reticulitermes
• Tsaitermes

• Prorhinotermes

• Psammotermes

• Acorhinotermes
• Dolichorhinotermes
• Macro Rhino Termes
• Parrhinotermes
• Rhino Termes
• Schedorhinotermes

• Termitogeton

The subfamily Stylotermitinae with the genus Stylotermes was spun off and established as a separate family Stylotermitidae.