Isoptera (Termites or White Ants)
Social and polymorphic species living in large communities composed of reproductive forms together with numerous apterous, sterile soldiers and workers. Mouthparts of the typical biting type: ligula 4-lobed. Wings very similar, elongate and membranous, su
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ISOPTERA (TERMITES OR WHITE ANTS) Social and polymorphic species living in large commumttes composed of reproductive forms together with numerous apterous, sterile soldiers and workers. Mouthparts of the typical biting type: ligula 4-lobed. Wings very similar, elongate and membranous, superposed flat over the back when at rest and capable of being shed by means of basal fractures: anterior veins strongly sclerotized, regular cross-veins wanting and an archedictyon often present. Tarsi almost always 4-segmented. Cerci short or very short: genitalia usually wanting or rudimentary in both sexes. Metamorphosis slight or absent.
The Isoptera are usually known as termites or 'white ants'. The latter name is unfortunate since they are only distantly related to the true ants or Formicidae, though the two groups offer striking analogies in structure and habits (Wilson, 1971). Termites abound throughout the tropics and also occur in most warm temperate countries. Only two species, Kalotermes .flavicollis and Reticulitermes lucifugus, are common in Europe but their range does not extend into the British Isles. Termite communities inhabit nests or termitaria of various kinds and consist of four main castes or types of individuals, two of which are reproductive forms and two sterile. The reproductive castes comprise (a) sclerotized, macropterous primary reproductives which found new colonies (Fig. 278); (b) less sclerotized supplementary reproductives with more or less reduced wings (Fig. 291). A termite colony usually contains a royal pair, the king and queen, which are commonly primary reproductives that have lost their wings after founding the colony originally (Fig. 290). The sterile castes consist of (a) soldiers and (b) workers, both of which may be apterous males and females adapted to perform special non-reproductive functions. Every colony also contains numerous immature individuals of various ages undergoing development into some or all of the above castes. In addition the colony usually contains symbionts and inquilines from other orders of insects or even different groups of animals. It is evident, therefore, that the study of termite associations involves problems of wide biological significance. General reviews of the order are given by Grasse (1949), Schmidt (1955), Krishna and Weesner (1969-70), Howse (1970), Weidner (1970), Harris (1971), Lee and Wood (1971) and the relevant chapters of Wilson (1971). There is a classified bibliography by Snyder (1956-68). O. W. Richards et al., Imms’ General Textbook of Entomology © O. W. Richards and R. G. Davies 1977
ISOPTERA (TERMITES OR WHITE ANTS)
FIG .
278
607
A winged termite (Archotermopsis), male
External Anatomy In addition to works cited below, there are accounts of Archotermopsis, Stolotermes and Anacanthotermes by lmms (1919), Morgan (1959) and Gupta (1960). The cuticle is more completely sclerotized in the primary reproductives than in other castes; in workers and soldiers it is usually only the head which is sclerotized though species which forage above
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