Macrotermitinae

Macrotermitinae
Structure of a Macrotermes natalensis mound
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Superorder:	Dictyoptera
Order:	see text
Family:	Termitidae
Subfamily:	Macrotermitinae Kemner, 1934
Genera
14, see text

Macrotermitinae constitute a subfamily of the harvester termites and allies (family Termitidae). The termites are traditionally classified as order Isoptera, but have been found to be a subgroup of the Blattodea (roaches and allies) and consequently should be treated as part of this group; what taxonomy entomologists eventually will settle upon has not been decided yet.

This subfamily consists of 14 genera and about 350 species. They include Macrotermes bellicosus, whose huge queen can attain a length of 10.6 cm (4.2 in) and breadth of 5.5 cm (2.2 in), making them the largest existing termites. The other adults, on the other hand, are about a third of the size.

Genera

• Acanthotermes
• Allodontermes
• Ancistrotermes
• Euscaiotermes
• Hypotermes
• Macrotermes
• Megaprotermes
• Microtermes
• Odontotermes
• Parahypotermes
• Protermes
• Pseudacanthotermes
• Sphaerotermes
• Synacanthotermes

Gallery

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  A Macrotermitinae mound in the Okavango Delta just outside Maun, Botswana

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  A termite soldier (Macrotermitinae) in the Okavango Delta

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  An ant of the genus Megaponera with a captured worker termite (Macrotermitinae) in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

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  Worker termites (Macrotermitinae) closing a newly exposed shaft inside a termite mound to prevent the entry of predators