Termitotroginae is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
subfamily of the family
Scarabaeidae
The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change in recent years. Several sub ...
, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been
synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
ised with ''Termitotrox''. All known members of this subfamily are tiny, blind and flightless, and dwell within the fungal gardens of colonies of species of
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 ...
in Africa or tropical Asia.
Termitotrogins are characterised by having no eyes and no wings, and their pronotum and elytra have a distinctive patterning of ribs and grooves. The function of the beetles in the termite colony is unclear but it seems that they are likely to be obligatory termitophiles and somehow play an important role in the nest environment of their fungus-growing hosts.
Species
The following
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
are included in the genus ''Termitotrox'':
[
*'']Termitotrox ancoroides
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been synonym (taxonomy), synonymised with ''Termitotr ...
'' (Petrovitz, 1956) – Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
*''Termitotrox consobrinus
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with ''Termitotrox''. All known memb ...
'' Reichensperger, 1915 – Republic of South Africa and KwazuluNatal
*'' Termitotrox cupido'' Maruyama, 2012 - Cambodia Termitotrox permirus
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with ''Termitotrox''. All known memb ...
'' Wasmann, 1918 – India
*''Termitotrox turkanicus
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with ''Termitotrox''. All known memb ...
'' Krikken, 2008 – Kenya
*''Termitotrox usambaricus
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with ''Termitotrox''. All known memb ...
'' Krikken, 2008 – Tanzania
*''Termitotrox vanbruggeni
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is ''Termititrox''. A second genus, ''Aphodiocopris'', Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with ''Termitotrox''. All known memb ...
'' Krikken, 2008 – Kenya
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q16993009
Beetle subfamilies
Scarabaeidae