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Nasutitermitinae
The Nasutitermitinae are a subfamily of higher termites that includes more than 80 genera. They are most recognisable by the more highly derived soldier caste which exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding fontanellar process on the head from which they can "shoot" chemical weaponry. True workers of certain genera within this subfamily also exhibit a visible epicranial y suture, most notably found within the members of Nasutitermes. Notable genera include the notorious wood-eating Nasutitermes, and the conspicuous Hospitalitermes and Constrictotermes Constrictotermes is a genus of neotropical higher termites within the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. They form large open-air foraging columns from which they travel to and from their sources of food, similar to the Indomalayan species of processi ..., both genera characterized by their behavior of forming large open-air foraging trails. Genera The ''Termite CatalogueTermite Catalogue (retrieved 7 July 2019)' lists the f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Constrictotermes
Constrictotermes is a genus of neotropical higher termites within the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. They form large open-air foraging columns from which they travel to and from their sources of food, similar to the Indomalayan species of processionary termites. Species of this genus commonly build epigeal or arboreal nests and feed on a variety of lichens, rotted woods and mosses. Description Soldiers are monomorphic and identifiable with a notable constriction of the head behind the antenna sockets; the antenna have 13-14 articles, and the points of the mandibles are small. Species of this genus are distributed throughout the neotropics, occurring primarily within South America and Central America; with one species, ''C. guantanamensis,'' being found within the extreme southeastern coast of Cuba. Within South America, Constrictotermes spp. can be found from the tropical rainforests of the Amazon to the xeric shrublands of northeastern Brazil. As with all Nasutitermitinae ter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hospitalitermes
''Hospitalitermes'' is an Asian–Papuan genus of lichen eating termite in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. There are 37 species currently listed, of which most are recognized for their extensive surface foraging columns. Due to their conspicuous foraging activities they are commonly known as processionary or marching termites. They often inhabit cavities inside of living trees excavated by other species of termite. Description The length of the workers and soldiers is about 5 mm. As with other genera in the subfamily, soldiers have a nasal tube from which, in case of danger, they shoot terpene-based repellents. They are one of the few species and genera of termites (''Hospitalitermes'', along with '' Lacessititermes'' and '' Longipeditermes'') that forage in large columns in the open air. In the species ''Hospitalitermes hospitalis'', the width of the columns is 20-30 mm (up to 8 termites in a row), they move away from the nest by an average of 29 m (up to 65 m), visiting neighbo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Termitidae
Termitidae is the largest family of termites whose members 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". 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. Subfamilies The family contains the following subfamilies: *Termitidae Latreille, 1802 **Subfamily Apicotermitinae Grassé & Noirot, 1954 955 Year 955 ( CMLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * August 10 – Battle of Lechfeld: King Otto I ("the Great") defeats the Hungarians (also .../small> (synonym: Indotermitidae Roonwal & Sen Sarma in Roonwal, 1958) **Subfamily Cubitermitinae Weidner, 1956 **Subfamily Foraminitermitinae Holmgre ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ceylonitermes
''Ceylonitermes'' is a genus of termites in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae The Nasutitermitinae are a subfamily of higher termites that includes more than 80 genera. They are most recognisable by the more highly derived soldier caste which exhibits vestigial mandibles and a protruding fontanellar process on the head .... They are found in South and Southeast Asia. Species There are two species: * '' Ceylonitermes escherichi'' (Holmgren, 1911) – Sri Lanka * '' Ceylonitermes indicola'' Thakur, 1976 – India (Kerala), Indonesia (Sumatra) References Termites Termite genera Insects of Asia {{termite-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fontanellar Gun
The fontanellar gun is a defense mechanism in the form of a horn-like frontal projection (''nasus'') on the head of the soldier caste which is capable of expelling chemical weaponry at a distance, a trait exclusive to the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. It is primarily used to ward off predators such as ants. Physiology and usage The "gun" is a gland with a duct on the front of the head. It operates by a chemical reaction triggered when the termite contracts its mandibular muscles. The termite is "able to eject the frontal gland material over a distance of many centimeters". The gland material is forced out through the front of the internal nose and its pores, which covers much of the termite's head. Termites have been shown to be extremely accurate with the gun, even though they are blind. The exact nature of how termites retain such accuracy and are able to orient themselves toward their enemy is currently unknown, but it is believed that the ability is "olfactory or auditory" in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
