''Trinervitermes'' is a
termite genus belonging to family
Termitidae. Members are native to the
Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are mainly nocturnal. The soldier caste has atrophied mandibles and a fontanelle squirt gun on the frons.
Diterpenes and
monoterpenes are released to deter ants and smaller predators, but these are not effective against larger mammalian predators. Due to the
snout
A snout is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw. In many animals, the structure is called a muzzle, rostrum, or proboscis. The wet furless surface around the nostrils of the nose of many mammals is c ...
on the head of soldiers and their grass-collecting habits, they are known as snouted harvester termites.
Species
Species include:
* ''
Trinervitermes biformis
The snouted harvester termite (''Trinervitermes biformis'') is a species of mound building termite in the genus ''Trinervitermes'', native to India and Sri Lanka. The type species was described from the Bandarawela area of Sri Lanka. It is a pes ...
''
(Wasmann, 1902) – India and Sri Lanka
* ''
Trinervitermes dispar
''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are main ...
''
(Sjöstedt) – East Africa to South Africa
* ''
Trinervitermes rapulum
''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are main ...
''
(Sjöstedt) – East Africa to southern Africa
* ''
Trinervitermes rhodesiensis
''Trinervitermes'' is a termite genus belonging to family Termitidae. Members are native to the Old World. They inhabit grasslands and store grass in their nests or mounds, just below the ground surface. Their grass-collecting activities are main ...
''
(Sjöstedt) – East Africa to southern Africa
* ''
Trinervitermes trinervoides
''Trinervitermes trinervoides'' is a species of termite belonging to family Termitidae. It is native to and widespread in southern Africa where it inhabits mesic to semi-arid grasslands. Due to the snout on the head of soldiers, and their grass c ...
''
(Sjöstedt, 1911) – South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique
* ''
Trinervitermes rubidus
''Trinervitermes rubidus'', is a species of mound building termite of the genus ''Trinervitermes''. It is native to Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்க ...
''
(Hagen, 1859) – Sri Lanka
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q16642719
Termite genera
Insects of Africa
Insects of Asia