Apicotermitinae is a highly diverse group of predominantly soil-feeding termites within the family Termitidae. They are represented by 64 genera and 236 species distributed within the Neotropical, Afrotropical and Indomalayan realms.Constantino, R. 2020. Termite Database. Brasília, University of Brasília. [updated April 2024; cited June 3rd 2025]. http://termitologia.net. Most species of this subfamily have lost the soldier caste, which occurred independently at least twice within two separate lineages, the most notable of which being the Neotropical Anoplotermes-group. The majority of species live within diffuse subterranean nests, although some, such as Ruptitermes arboreus, build arboreal nests and feed on a wider variety of substrates such as leaf litter. Due to the lack of soldiers, Apicotermitinae workers are more aggressive and have evolved additional defenses such as autothysis. For example, the dehiscent organ located within the abdomen of Ruptitermes workers, which they intentionally rupture to release toxic substances onto their main predators, ants.
Genera It contains the following genera:
Acholotermes Acidnotermes Acutidentitermes Adaiphrotermes Aderitotermes Adynatotermes Aganotermes Allognathotermes Alyscotermes Amalotermes Amicotermes Amplucrutermes Anaorotermes Anenteotermes Anoplotermes Apagotermes Aparatermes Apicotermes Apolemotermes Asagarotermes Astalotermes Astratotermes Ateuchotermes Aputitermes Hasitermes Compositermes Coxotermes Disjunctitermes Dissimulitermes Duplidentitermes Ebogotermes Eburnitermes Echinotermes Euhamitermes Eurytermes Firmitermes Gastrotermes Grigiotermes Heimitermes Hirsutitermes Hoplognathotermes Humutermes Hydrecotermes Indotermes Jugositermes Koutabatermes Krecekitermes Labidotermes Longustitermes Machadotermes Mangolditermes Ourissotermes Patawatermes Phoxotermes Rostrotermes Rubeotermes Ruptitermes Rustitermes Skatitermes Speculitermes Tetimatermes Tonsuritermes Trichotermes Tucupitermes
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