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 often 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.
Coptotermes gaurii, is a species of subterranean termite of the genus Coptotermes. It is native to South India and Sri Lanka. It is a serious pest of tea in Sri Lanka.
Heterotermes ceylonicus is a species of subterranean termite of the family Rhinotermitidae. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It is a wood destroying termites, which damage to logs, wooden structures of both natural and man-made such as tree stumps of Gravellia and Hevea brasiliensis, and tea plantations. It can be also found in mounds of Hypotermes obscuriceps.
Heterotermes indicola, is a species of subterranean termite of the genus Heterotermes. It is native to tropical India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka but has extended its range into the subtropics and warm temperate areas of the Himalayan foothills to altitudes of about 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It causes damage to timber in buildings and is one of the most destructive termites in urban and agricultural areas in the world. Soldiers are about 4.1-4.9mm long. Extracts of garlic and Calotropis procera are known to have termiticidal effects on H. indicola.
Termitogeton umbilicatus, is a species of subterranean termite of the genus Termitogeton. It is endemic to Sri Lanka and can be seen in forests, plains, hills and human vegetation of higher elevations.
The Fungus-growing termite,, also known as South Asian wood-destroying termite, is a small species of earth dwelling termite of the genus Odontotermes. It is native to India and Sri Lanka.
Odontotermes globicola is a species of small termite of the genus Odontotermes. It is native to India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. It is found under flower pots and decaying logs. They construct small chambered nest with spherical combed termitaria.
Odontotermes horni, is a species of termite of the genus Odontotermes. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It attacks many dead, decaying trees and fertilized soil. Though nests on ground, they do not construct a termitaria. It is a pest of tea, coconut and sugarcane.
Odontotermes redemanni, is a species of termite of the genus Odontotermes. It is native to India and Sri Lanka. It damages wooden constructions. It is a pest of sugarcane, tea and coconut. They construct termitaria during November to March when rainfall and ambient temperature become low. Underground termite nests of this species are a natural host for the important Traditional Chinese Medicine fungus Xylaria nigripes, also known as Wu Ling Shen.
Nasutitermes ceylonicus, is a species of termite of the genus Nasutitermes. It is found in Sri Lanka. It is a pest of tea and coconut. It damages numerous wooden constructions, and timber in buildings.
Nasutitermes horni, is a species of termite of the genus Nasutitermes. It is found in Sri Lanka. It is not considered as a pest, although they are abundant in coconut plantations and forests.
Nasutitermes lacustris, is a species of termite of the genus Nasutitermes. It is found in India and Sri Lanka. This species builds nests on branches of forest trees and can be found in stems of trees like Anacardium, Hevea and Elaeocarpus.
Trinervitermes biformis, the snouted harvester termite, 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 pest of sugarcane and brinjal.
Trinervitermes rubidus, is a species of mound building termite of the genus Trinervitermes. It is native to Sri Lanka.
Ceylonitermellus hantanae is a species of termite of the genus Ceylonitermellus. It is endemic to Sri Lanka, first described from Hanthana Mountain Range area. It is a soil-dwelling and soil-feeding termite species.
Ceylonitermellus kotuae, is a species of termite of the genus Ceylonitermellus. It is endemic to Sri Lanka, first described from Kotuwa area of Galle. It is a soil-dwelling and soil-feeding termite species.
Dicuspiditermes incola, is a species of small termite of the genus Dicuspiditermes. It is found in Sri Lanka and India.
Pericapritermes speciosus, is a species of small termite of the genus Pericapritermes. It is found in Sri Lanka and Borneo.
Hospitalitermes is an Asian–Papuan genus of lichen-eating termite in the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. There are 37 species currently listed, of which most are recognized for their extensive surface foraging columns. Due to their conspicuous foraging activities, they are commonly known as processionary or marching termites. They often inhabit cavities inside of living trees excavated by other species of termite.
