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Taxonomic confusion continued, however,
and during this era termites were often
referred to as 'white ants' (Hagen, 1876).
This confusion in differentiating termites
from ants exists today for much of the
public, especially in alate or winged forms
(Potter, 2011). Adding to the confusion,
newer molecular research, using two
mitochondrial genes (
12S
and
cytochrome
oxidase II
) and three nuclear genes (
28S,
18S
and
histone 3
), no longer supports order
status and termites are now considered
social cockroaches (Inward
et al
., 2007).
There is, however, still controversy in
higher classifi cation of termites: superfamily
based on molecular results (Inward
et al
.,
2007) and infraorder based on morphology,
biology and evolution (Krishna
et al
., 2013
[p. 5]). Both classifi cation scenarios within
Blattaria remain in debate at this time.
diversity of habitats that includes both dry
and damp wood, as well as subterranean
(Krishna, 1961; Weesner, 1970; Su and
Scheffrahn, 1990; Krishna
et al.
, 2013 [p.
172]). A more realistic description of the
Kalotermitidae lifestyle would be 'single
piece nesters' (Abe, 1987; Evans
et al.
,
2013). Species richness is greatest in the
genus
Glyptotermes
(total 127), whereas the
oldest extant genera are
Cryptotermes
,
Kalotermes
and
Neotermes
(Krishna
et al.
,
2013).
Biology and Ecology of the
Kalotermitidae
There are 21 genera currently recognized
within the Kalotermitidae (Krishna
et al
.,
2013 [p. 172]); however, studies on the
biology and ecology have generally been
restricted to fi ve:
Cryptotermes
,
Glypto-
termes
,
Incisitermes
,
Kalotermes
and
Neo-
termes
.
The remaining genera have fewer
species and represent collections from
islands or remote locations. In general, most
published reports for drywood termites fall
into three main topic areas: taxonomy and
systematics, invasive species reporting and
control. The literature on the biology and
ecology of the fi ve important genera can be
categorized into the following groups:
anatomy and physiology (Pence, 1956; Rust
et al.
, 1979; Ohmura
et al.
, 2007; Chrysanti
and Yoshimura, 2012; Yanase
et al.
, 2013);
caste composition and maintenance
(Nutting, 1970; Jones
et al
., 1981; Korb
et
al.
, 2003; Lopez
et al
., 2006; Neoh and Lee,
2011); chemical ecology (Haverty
et al.
,
2000, 2005; Woodrow
et al.
, 2000); colony
survival and maintenance (Luykx, 1986;
Cabrera and Rust, 1994; Lenz, 1994;
Maistrello and Sbrenna, 1998; Woodrow
and Grace, 1998a, 1999); evolutionary
biology (Korb and Schneider, 2007); feeding
and foraging behaviour (McMahan, 1966;
Haverty and Nutting, 1974; Rust and
Reierson, 1977; Scheffrahn and Rust, 1983;
Mishra, 1992; Moein and Rust, 1992; Fujii
et al.
, 1995; Matsuoka
et al.
, 1996; Cabrera
and Rust, 1999; Indrayani
et al.
, 2003; Korb,
2006; Evans
et al.
, 2005, 2007; Indrayani
Origins of Family Name
Kalotermitidae
Drywood termites were fi rst recognized as a
distinct group in the late 19th century and
assigned to the family Kalotermitidae
(Froggatt, 1897). The early history of taxo-
nomic nomenclature for drywood termites
was fraught with misidentifi ed specimens;
for example,
Hemorobius marginalis
1790
(Krishna
et al.
, 2013 [p. 509]). In 1793 a
drywood termite species was described as
Termes fl avicolle
Fabricius from Algeria
(Krishna
et al.
, 2013 [p. 509]) and
Termes
marginipenne
Latreille from Mexico
(Krishna
et al.,
2013 [p. 485]; some of those
samples were actually
Incisitermes minor
(Hagen) from California). The taxonomic
features recognized today that identify ter-
mites as belonging to the family Kalo-
termitidae are based on the alates (winged
primary reproductives) and include the
presence of ocelli, a left mandible with two
marginal teeth, two-segmented cerci,
antennae with 11-24 articles and the lack of
a fontanelle (Weesner, 1965; Krishna
et al.
,
2013 [p. 69]). The common name often
associated to this family '
dry wood
' is
misleading. In reality, 456 species associated
with this family are represented in a
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