Termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial insects which consume a wide variety of decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, and soil humus. They are distinguished by their moniliform antennae and the soft-bodied and typically unpigmented worker caste for which they have been commonly termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants, to which they are distantly related. About 2,972 extant species are currently described, 2,105 of which are members of the family Termitidae.
Kalotermitidae is a family of termites, commonly known as drywood termites. Kalotermitidae includes 21 genera and 419 species. The family has a cosmopolitan circumtropical distribution, and is found in functionally arid environments.
Cryptotermes is a genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae. It is one of the economically most significant genera of drywood termites.
Incisitermes is a genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae.
Incisitermes minor is a species of termite in the family Kalotermitidae known commonly as the western drywood termite. It is native to western North America, including the western United States and northern Mexico. It has been found in many other parts of the United States, all the way to the East Coast. It has been reported from Toronto. It has been introduced to Hawaii. It has been noted in China and it is not uncommon in Japan. This is an economically important pest of wooden structures, including houses. In California and Arizona alone its economic impact is estimated to be about $250 million per year.
Cryptotermes brevis is a species of termite in the family Kalotermitidae, commonly known as the West Indian drywood termite or the powderpost termite. It is able to live completely inside timber structures or articles made of wood such as furniture without any outside source of water. It is frequently introduced into new locations inadvertently, and causes damage to the structural timbers of buildings and to wooden objects such as furniture.
Postelectrotermes militaris, the up-country tea termite, is a species of drywood termite of the genus Postelectrotermes. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It is a serious pest of tea.
Neotermes greeni, is a species of drywood termite of the genus Neotermes. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It closely resembles Postelectrotermes militaris. It is a minor pest of tea in Sri Lanka, and major pest of mango in India.
Glyptotermes ceylonicus, is a species of damp wood termite of the genus Glyptotermes. It is endemic to high elevations Sri Lanka. It is a pest of dead and decaying wood of Hevea, Theobroma, Ficus, and Acacia species.
The Low-country tea termite,, also known as Low country live wood termite, is a species of damp wood termite of the genus Glyptotermes. It is endemic to high elevations Sri Lanka. It is a major pest of tea in low country area of Sri Lanka.
Bifiditermes pintoi is a species of damp wood termite of the genus Bifiditermes. It is found in Sri Lanka.
Cryptotermes ceylonicus, is a species of dry wood termite of the genus Cryptotermes. It is found in Sri Lanka. It is found in living wood, and other man-made wooden constructions. They possess teeth-less mandibles.
The Indo-Malaysian drywood termite,, is a species of dry wood termite of the genus Cryptotermes. It is found in Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, and introduced to Sri Lanka. It is the smallest termite species in Australia, with 2.5 – 3.7mm in soldiers.
The domestic drywood termite,, is a species of dry wood termite of the genus Cryptotermes. It is native to Malaysia, Borneo, Australia, China and Sri Lanka. It is mainly a house termite and also found in cultivated areas. The presence of this termite can be identified by small heaps of tiny egg-like pellets of excreta. It is a larger termite species, with 3.25-5.90mm in soldiers. It is considered as a minor pest in Australia, but is a serious pest causing wood damage in other parts of the world.
Cryptotermes perforans is a species of dry wood termite of the genus Cryptotermes. It is endemic to Sri Lanka. It is found in dead wood of Syzygium cumini, attack on other dressed timber and wooden furniture.
Marginitermes hubbardi, commonly known as the light western drywood termite, is a species of termite in the family Kalotermitidae. It is found in Central America and desert regions of southwestern North America.
Marginitermes is a genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae. There are at least three described species in Marginitermes.
Pterotermes is a monotypic genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae. Pterotermes occidentis is the single species in the genus. This termite lives in the extremely dry conditions found in the Sonoran Desert in southwestern United States, Baja California and Mexico. It feeds on dry wood and lives entirely within a single piece of timber.
Glyptotermes is a genus of termite in the family Kalotermitidae. With 127 species worldwide as of 2013, is the family's most speciose genus, and the second most speciose in the New World after Cryptotermes.
