''Globitermes'' 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 endemic to

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

and mostly inhabit the tropical rain-forests of this region. This genus contains three species which are known for their defensive strategy of

autothysis Autothysis (from the Greek roots ''autos-'' "self" and ''thysia'' "sacrifice") or suicidal altruism is the process where an animal destroys itself via an internal rupturing or explosion of an organ which ruptures the skin. The term was proposed by ...

Species

*'' Globitermes brachycerastes'' Han, 1987 – China (

Yunnan Yunnan , () is a landlocked Provinces of China, province in Southwest China, the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is ...

) *'' Globitermes globosus'' ( Haviland, 1898) – Southeast Asia *''

Globitermes sulphureus ''Globitermes sulphureus'' (suicidal attack ants) is a species of termite that is very common in central and southern Vietnam and also present in other areas of South East Asia, including Cambodia, Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia. They live in ...

'' (Haviland, 1898) – China (

), Southeast Asia

References

Termites Termite genera Insects of Asia {{termite-stub