Feed on wood and other vegetable matter. Termitidae have symbiotic bacteria, other families have symbiotic flagellate protozoans that secrete enzymes that aid in the digestion of wood.

Derived characteristics:

• eusocial, with reproductives, soldiers, and workers of both sexes.
• wings with basal sutures allowing them to be shed
• external genitalia rudimentary or lacking

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.

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.

Arches provide structural support: termites
 

The nests of termites gain structural support for chambers, ventilation shafts, and insulating cavities because arches are the main architectural element.

     
  "The basic building step in many termites involves gluing fecal pellets to make arches; the arches, supporting a network of other arches, provide most of the structural strength needed to support specialized chambers, ventilation shafts, and insulating cavities, and they supply convenient walkways as well. Recycling feces is a superb way to turn a problem into a solution…The construction of the arches goes well beyond flexibility and variation…Columns are neither too close nor too far apart to permit the subsequent construction of arches." (Gould and Gould 2007:142-144)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Gut microbes digest cellulose: termites
 

Guts of termites digest cellulose via microbial symbionts.

   
  "Termites do not digest cellulose directly…instead they collect vegetation, chew it up, and leave the chemical breakdown to other organisms. There are two strategies. The most primitive termites swallow the vegetation and pass it to a fermentation chamber where anaerobic bacteria and protozoa break down the cellulose…More advanced species have a different feeding strategy. The energy source is still cellulose, but it is digested outside the termite's body…Fungi is the only kingdom of organisms able to digest cellulose in air, though they need warmth and humidity to do the job efficiently." (Gould and Gould 2007:132-133)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Mounds shed water: West African termites
 

Mounds of West African termites are built to shed water via mushroom-like shape.

   
  "In West Africa and other areas where there is heavy rain, the colonies build nests like mushrooms with flat roofs which shed the water." (Attenborough 1979:100)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Ventilated nests remove heat and gas: termites
 

The ovoid nests of termites carry away dangerous accumulations of heat and carbon dioxide via ventilation shafts.

     
  "The outside of this ovoid bunker is perforated by a series of vents or tubes (or vents converging on circumferential tubes giving rise to more vents, or an arrangement even more elaborate); the structure of these vents and tubes is so unique that they are often used for species identification. As a rule, the vents run down from the inside to the outside, which would keep dripping moisture out and draw cool air up and into the structure. The entire home is suspended from all walls on arching pillars. Ventilation shafts bring cool fresh air in and carry warm stale air out." (Gould and Gould 2007:136)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Isoptera

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	1,240
Specimens with Sequences:	846
Specimens with Barcodes:	802
Public Records:	80
Species:	235
Species With Barcodes:	194

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