Coptotermes

Coptotermes
	Formosan subterranean termites
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Infraorder:	Isoptera
Family:	Rhinotermitidae
Subfamily:	Coptotermitinae
Genus:	Coptotermes; Wasmann 1896
Species
	see text
Synonyms
	Arrhinotermes Wasmann 1902; Vastitermes Sjöstedt 1926;

Coptotermes is a genus of termites in the family Rhinotermitidae. Many of the roughly 71 species are economically destructive pests. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia. Worker termites from this genus forage underground and move about in roofed tunnels that they build along the surface.^[1]

In Australia, Coptotermes colonies sometimes host a parasitic genus of termites, Ahamitermes. The host and the parasite dwell in separate parts of the mound nest and are mutually antagonistic. The Ahamitermes species live in the innermost parts of the nest and feed on the "carton" material with which the galleries are lined, which consists of soil particles, chewed wood, and cellulose, bound together with saliva and faeces. They are thus dependent on their hosts for both their food and their home and are not found in any other situations.^[2]

Species[edit]

This is an incomplete list of species:

Coptotermes acinaciformis
Coptotermes brunneus
Coptotermes ceylonicus
Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren^[3]
Coptotermes elisae
Coptotermes emersoni
Coptotermes formosanus - Formosan subterranean termite
Coptotermes frenchi
Coptotermes gaurii
Coptotermes gestroi - Asian subterranean termite
Coptotermes havilandi
Coptotermes heimi
Coptotermes kalshoveni
Coptotermes lacteus
Coptotermes parvulus Holmgren

References[edit]

^ Gentz, Margaret C.; Rubinoff, Daniel; Grace, J. Kenneth (2008). "Phylogenetic Analysis of Subterranean Termites (Coptotermes spp., Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Indicates the Origins of Hawaiian and North American Invasions: Potential Implications for Invasion Biology" (PDF). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. 40: 1–9.
^ Calaby, J. H. (1956). "The distribution and biology of the genus Ahamitermes (Isoptera)". Australian Journal of Zoology. 4 (2): 11–124. doi:10.1071/ZO9560111.
^ "Coptotermes curvignathus (rubber termite)". CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International). 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2022-06-17.

[1] Gentz, Margaret C.; Rubinoff, Daniel; Grace, J. Kenneth (2008). "Phylogenetic Analysis of Subterranean Termites (Coptotermes spp., Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Indicates the Origins of Hawaiian and North American Invasions: Potential Implications for Invasion Biology" (PDF). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society. 40: 1–9.

[2] Calaby, J. H. (1956). "The distribution and biology of the genus Ahamitermes (Isoptera)". Australian Journal of Zoology. 4 (2): 11–124. doi:10.1071/ZO9560111.

[Coptotermes-curvignathus-CABI-3] "Coptotermes curvignathus (rubber termite)". CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International). 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2022-06-17.

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