Isoptera

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Termites are closely related to cockroaches based on a primitative termite species found in Australia. The fossil record suggests that termites have existed for approximately 200 million years. Isopterans are the oldest known social insect.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/Author©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Sourcehttp://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Isoptera/

Isoptera consists of over 2600 species (mostly tropical). Termites are the oldest social insect group with complex societies dating back at least to the early Cretaceous (140 Mya). Only 12 species occur in Europe. Recent studies have shown that Isoptera are basically social cockroaches forming a monophyletic clade within the Blattodea, most likely the sister group of the Cryptocercidae (woodroaches) (Inward et al. 2007). Termites are the only hemimetabolous insects that exhibit true social behavior. They build large nests housing an entire colony. These colonies contain adult reproductives (one queen and one king) plus hundreds or thousands of immatures that serve as workers and soldiers. Termites are important decomposer animals in lowland tropical ecosystems. They mostly feed on dead plant material and are able to digest cellulose with the help of symbiotic gut symbionts.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorKatja Schulz, Katja Schulz
Sourcehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3897/biorisk.4.68

Isoptera Overview:

About 2, 900 termites have been described worldwide.  They undergo simple metamorphosis.  They are eusocial insects and nymphs grow into one of the castes, where they will specialize in a job for the colony.  A colony would consist of: a king, a queen, workers, and soldiers.  The colony lives in nests, which are mostly built with saliva, mud, and soil.  Nests are typically underground, but some can grow above the surface, with some of the tallest going thirty feet high.  Termites have soft bodies that need to be kept moist and the nests provide the necessary protection and thermoregulation for the colony to survive.  They frequently groom each other with their mouths.  Termites feed on wood, leaf litter, or soil.  They have bacteria in their gut, which aids with the digestion of cellulose.  As detritivores, they play a huge role in nutrient cycling.  They can be found in the fossil record as far back as the Late Triassic.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorRhianna Hruska, Rhianna Hruska
SourceNo source database.

Food Habits:

Isopterans get their nutrition from cellulose in wood. Digestion of wood occurs by bacteria and protozoans in the intestinal tract of many termites. Young termites acquire the microorganisms when workers feed them.

Some tropical termites use cultivated fungi to predigest food rather than microorganisms.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/Author©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Sourcehttp://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Isoptera/

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative:

Termites cause extensive damage to buildings and any other sturcture made of wood.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/Author©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Sourcehttp://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Isoptera/

Ecosystem Roles:

Termites tunnel through wood allowing for decomposition of the wood into humus.

Mutualist Species:

  • bacteria (intestinal)
  • protozoans (intestinal)
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/Author©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Sourcehttp://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Isoptera/

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive:

In some cultures, termites queens are considered a delicacy and source of protein for humans. Termites are recyclers of wood.

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/Author©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Sourcehttp://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Isoptera/

Predation:

Termites nests have special members that act as soldiers. They have extra big jaws, or sometimes chemical sprays to use on enemies of the nest. Soldiers and workers defend the nest.

Known Predators:

  • Formicidae
  • nematodes
  • Coleoptera
  • Ursidae
  • Coleoptera
  • Aves
  • Anura
  • Chilopoda
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/Author©1995-2012, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
Sourcehttp://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Isoptera/

Known predators:

Isoptera (isoptera) is prey of:
Solpugidae
Scorpiones
Araneae
Talpinae
Aporosaura
Typhlosaurus
Canis
Hyaeninae
Aves
Hymenoptera
Cicindelidae
Camponotus pennsylvanicus
Rodentia
Serpentes
Varanidae
Erinaceus europaeus
Vulpes vulpes
Amphisbaena caeca
Eleutherodactylus coqui
Eleutherodactylus richmondi
Eleutherodactylus portoricensis
Eleutherodactylus wightmanae
Eleutherodactylus eneidae
Melanerpes portoricensis
Todus mexicanus
Margarops fuscatus
Anolis evermanni
Anolis stratulus
Anolis gundlachi
Leptodactylus albilabris
Sphaerodactylus klauberi
Sphaerodactylus macrolepis
Diploglossus pleei
Tityus obtusus
Ponerinae
Bufo marinus
Typhlops rostellatus
Coleoptera
Diptera
Eptesicus fuscus
Loxigilla noctis
Anolis gingivinus
Anolis pogus
Orthoptera
Chilopoda

Based on studies in:
Namibia, Namib Desert (Desert or dune)
India, Rajasthan Desert (Desert or dune)
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

  • E. Holm and C. H. Scholtz, Structure and pattern of the Namib Desert dune ecosystem at Gobabeb, Madoqua 12(1):3-39, from p. 21 (1980).
  • I. K. Sharma, A study of ecosystems of the Indian desert, Trans. Indian Soc. Desert Technol. and Univ. Center Desert Stud. 5(2):51-55, from p. 52 and A study of agro-ecosystems in the Indian desert, ibid. 5:77-82, from p. 79 1980).
  • Waide RB, Reagan WB (eds) (1996) The food web of a tropical rainforest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorCynthia Sims Parr, Joel Sachs, SPIRE
Sourcehttp://spire.umbc.edu/fwc/

Known prey organisms:

Isoptera (isoptera) preys on:
detritus
Eleucine
Cyperus
Cenchrus
live wood
dead wood
wood

Based on studies in:
Namibia, Namib Desert (Desert or dune)
Puerto Rico, El Verde (Rainforest)
India, Rajasthan Desert (Desert or dune)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

  • E. Holm and C. H. Scholtz, Structure and pattern of the Namib Desert dune ecosystem at Gobabeb, Madoqua 12(1):3-39, from p. 21 (1980).
  • I. K. Sharma, A study of ecosystems of the Indian desert, Trans. Indian Soc. Desert Technol. and Univ. Center Desert Stud. 5(2):51-55, from p. 52 and A study of agro-ecosystems in the Indian desert, ibid. 5:77-82, from p. 79 1980).
  • Waide RB, Reagan WB (eds) (1996) The food web of a tropical rainforest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorCynthia Sims Parr, Joel Sachs, SPIRE
Sourcehttp://spire.umbc.edu/fwc/
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith