''Coptotermes'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

termite Termites are small insects that live in colonies and have distinct castes (eusocial) and feed on wood or other dead plant matter. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattode ...

s in the family Rhinotermitidae. Many of the roughlty 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage underground and move about in roofed tunnels that they build along the surface. In Australia, ''Coptotermes''

colonies In modern parlance, a colony is a territory subject to a form of foreign rule. Though dominated by the foreign colonizers, colonies remain separate from the administration of the original country of the colonizers, the '' metropolitan state'' ...

sometimes host a parasitic genus of termites, ''

Ahamitermes ''Ahamitermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Termitidae containing four species, all of which have a parasitic Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another org ...

''. The

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County People *Jim Host (born 1937), American businessman * Michel Host ...

and the parasite dwell in separate parts of the mound nest and are mutually antagonistic. The ''Ahamitermes'' species live in the innermost parts of the nest and feed on the "carton" material with which the galleries are lined, which consists of soil particles, chewed wood, and cellulose, bound together with saliva and faeces. They are thus dependent on their hosts for both their food and their home and are not found in any other situations.

Species

This is an incomplete list of species: *''

Coptotermes acinaciformis ''Coptotermes acinaciformis'' is a species of subterranean termite in the family Rhinotermitidae native to Australia. Termites are social insects and build a communal nest. In the case of ''C. acinaciformis'', this is either in the root crown of ...

'' *''

Coptotermes brunneus ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Rhinotermitidae. Many of the roughlty 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergrou ...

'' *''

Coptotermes ceylonicus ''Coptotermes ceylonicus'', is a species of subterranean termite of the genus ''Coptotermes''. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It is a common wood destroying termites, which damage to logs, woodens structures of both natural and man-made. I ...

'' *'' Coptotermes curvignathus'' Holmgren *'' Coptotermes elisae'' *'' Coptotermes emersoni'' *''

Coptotermes formosanus The Formosan termite (''Coptotermes formosanus'') is a species of termite local to southern China and introduced to Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa, where it gets its name), Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and the continental United Sta ...

'' - Formosan subterranean termite *''

Coptotermes frenchi ''Coptotermes frenchi'', the Australian subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae. Termites are social insects and ''C. frenchi'' usually builds its communal nest in the root crown of a tree. From this, a networ ...

'' *'' Coptotermes gaurii'' *''

Coptotermes gestroi ''Coptotermes gestroi'', the Asian subterranean termite is a small species of termite that lives underground. Both this species and the Formosan subterranean termite, (''Coptotermes formosanus'') are destructive pests native to Asia, but have sp ...

'' - Asian subterranean termite *''

Coptotermes havilandi ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Rhinotermitidae. Many of the roughlty 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergrou ...

'' *'' Coptotermes heimi '' *''

Coptotermes kalshoveni ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Rhinotermitidae. Many of the roughlty 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergroun ...

'' *''

Coptotermes lacteus ''Coptotermes lacteus'', the milk termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae, native to Australia. These termites are social insects and build a communal nest in the form of a mound. From this, a network of galleries extends t ...

'' *''

Coptotermes parvulus ''Coptotermes'' is a genus of termites in the family Rhinotermitidae. Many of the roughlty 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage undergrou ...

'' Holmgren

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q11842491 Termite genera