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Forty-eight family-group names are identified for insects among the Isoptera (termites), representing a nearly 19% increase since the last compilation less than 10 years ago. Accordingly, these names are newly catalogued, including various updates from the original summary. The name Reticulitermitidae is recognized as a nomen nudum while Caatingatermitinae is newly considered a nomen invalidum, and neither is available in zoological nomenclature. A catalogue of the suprafamilial names for Isoptera is appended. The name Xylophagodea is formally proposed for the Isoptera + Cryptocercidae clade.
Isoptera, termites, nomenclature, classification, family-group names, type genera
During the last 25 years numerous efforts have been undertaken to document family-group names for insects and to provide their correct authorship, date, type genus, combining stem, and availability or validity (e.g.,
In addition I have included here for the first time a summary of all names applied for suprafamilial groups of termites (i.e., names above the family-group ranks and not regulated by the ICZN).
Catalog of Family-group names1. Termitina Latreille, 1802: 293. Type genus: Termes Linnaeus, 1758. Combining stem: Termit–. Note:
2. Calotermitinae Froggatt, 1897: 516 [recte Kalotermitinae; in accordance with
3. Glyptotermitinae Froggatt, 1897: 518. Type genus: Glyptotermes Froggatt, 1897. Combining stem: Glyptotermit–.
4. Rhinotermitinae Froggatt, 1897: 518. Type genus: Rhinotermes Hagen, 1858. Combining stem: Rhinotermit–.
5. Heterotermitinae Froggatt, 1897: 550. Type genus: Heterotermes Froggatt, 1897. Combining stem: Heterotermit–.
6. Mastotermitinae Desneux, 1904a: 284. Type genus: Mastotermes Froggatt, 1897. Combining stem: Mastotermit–.
7. Hodotermitini Desneux, 1904c: 284. Type genus: Hodotermes Hagen, 1853. Combining stem: Hodotermit–.
8. Stolotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a: 285. Type genus: Stolotermes Hagen, 1858. Combining stem: Stolotermit–. Note: Stolotermitinae has often been included in an expanded Termopsidae for which the latter name has been used for the combined grouping despite the priority of the name based on Stolotermes. A petition was submitted (
9. Leucotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a: 285. Type genus: Leucotermes Silvestri, 1901. Combining stem: Leucotermit–.
10. Coptotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a: 285. Type genus: Coptotermes Wasmann, 1896. Combining stem: Coptotermit–. Note: Proposed again as new in
11. Serritermitinae Holmgren, 1910a: 285. Type genus: Serritermes Wasmann, 1897. Combining stem: Serritermit–.
12. Termitogetoninae Holmgren, 1910a: 286. Type genus: Termitogeton Desneux, 1904b. Combining stem: Termitogeton–.
13. Microcerotermitinae Holmgren, 1910b: 145. Type genus: Microcerotermes Silvestri, 1901. Combining stem: Microcerotermit–.
14. Eutermitinae Holmgren, 1910b: 146. Type genus: Eutermes Heer, 1849. Combining stem: Eutermit–. Note: Given the uncertainty in the application of the name Eutermes, and thereby the family-group name Eutermitinae, a petition to suppress proactively the name was submitted to the ICZN for consideration (
15. Termopsinae Holmgren, 1911: 35. Type genus: Termopsis Heer, 1849. Combining stem: Termops–. Note: Refer to comments provided for Stolotermitinae (vide supra).
16. Psammotermitinae Holmgren, 1911: 64. Type genus: Psammotermes Desneux, 1902. Combining stem: Psammotermit–.
17. Pseudomicrotermitinae Holmgren, 1912: 5. Type genus: Pseudomicrotermes Holmgren, 1912. Combining stem: Pseudomicrotermit–.
18. Foraminitermitinae Holmgren, 1912: 5. Type genus: Foraminitermes Holmgren, 1912. Combining stem: Foraminitermit–.
19. Stylotermitinae Holmgren and Holmgren, 1917: 141. Type genus: Stylotermes Holmgren and Holmgren, 1917. Combining stem: Stylotermit–.
20. †Pliotermitinae
21. Arrhinotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926: 8. Type genus: Arrhinotermes Wasmann, 1902. Combining stem: Arrhinotermit–.
22. Acanthotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926: 8. Type genus: Acanthotermes Sjöstedt, 1900. Combining stem: Acanthotermit–. Note: This name has priority over Macrotermitinae; however, a petition was submitted to conserve the usage of Macrotermitinae (
23. †Miotermitinae Pongrácz, 1926: 29 [chart]. Type genus: †Miotermes Rosen, 1913. Combining stem: Miotermit–.
24. Macrotermitinae Kemner, 1934: 69. Type genus: Macrotermes Holmgren, 1909. Combining stem: Macrotermit–. Note: Refer to comments provided for Acanthotermitinae (vide supra).
25. Amitermitinae Kemner, 1934: 110. Type genus: Amitermes Silvestri, 1901. Combining stem: Amitermit–.
26. Miro-capritermitinae Kemner, 1934: 166. Type genus: Mirocapritermes Holmgren, 1914. Combining stem: Mirocapritermit–. Note: Although
27. Nasutitermitinae Hare, 1937. Type genus: Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890. Combining stem: Nasutitermit–.
28. †Electrotermitinae Emerson, 1942: 10. Type genus: †Electrotermes Rosen, 1913. Combining stem: Electrotermit–.
29. Porotermitinae Emerson, 1942: 10. Type genus: Porotermes Hagen, 1858. Combining stem: Porotermit–.
30. Apicotermitinae Grassé and Noirot, 1954 [1955]: 360. Type genus: Apicotermes Holmgren, 1912. Combining stem: Apicotermit–.
31. Odontotermitini Weidner, 1956: 82. Type genus: Odontotermes Holmgren, 1910a. Combining stem: Odontotermit–.
32. Cubitermitini Weidner, 1956: 99. Type genus: Cubitermes Wasmann, 1906. Combining stem: Cubitermit–.
33. Mirotermitini Weidner, 1956: 99. Type genus: Mirotermes Wasmann, 1897. Combining stem: Mirotermit–.
34. Capritermitini Weidner, 1956: 100. Type genus: Capritermes Wasmann, 1897. Combining stem: Capritermit–.
35. Indotermitidae Roonwal and Sen-Sarma In Roonwal, 1958: 81. Type genus: Indotermes Roonwal and Sen-Sarma In Roonwal, 1958. Stem: Indotermit–. Note: Proposed as new again in
36. †Cretatermitinae Emerson, 1967 [1968]: 278. Type genus: †Cretatermes Emerson, 1967 [1968]. Combining stem: Cretatermit–.
37. Prorhinotermitinae Quennedey and Deligne, 1975: 265. Type genus: Prorhinotermes Silvestri, 1909. Combining stem: Prorhinotermit–.
38. †Lutetiatermitinae Schlüter, 1989: 61. Type genus: †Lutetiatermes Schlüter, 1989. Combining stem: Lutetiatermit–.
39. †Carinatermitinae Krishna and Grimaldi, 2000: 134. Type genus: †Carinatermes Krishna and Grimaldi, 2000. Combining stem: Carinatermit–.
40. †Archeorhinotermitinae Krishna and Grimaldi, 2003: 2. Type genus: †Archeorhinotermes Krishna and Grimaldi, 2003. Combining stem: Archeorhinotermit–.
41. Reticulitermatidae Szalanski, Austin, and Owen 2003: 1514, nomen imperfectum [recte Reticulitermitidae] et nomen nudum. Note: This name has appeared in several publications (e.g.,
42. Syntermitinae Engel and Krishna, 2004a: 6. Type genus: Syntermes Holmgren, 1909. Combining stem: Syntermit–.
43. Sphaerotermitinae Engel and Krishna, 2004a: 6. Type genus: Sphaerotermes Holmgren, 1912. Combining stem: Sphaerotermit–.
44. Cornitermitinae Ensaf et al., 2004: 284, nomen nudum. Type genus: Cornitermes Wasmann, 1897. Combining stem: Cornitermit–.
45. Glossotermitinae Cancello and DeSouza, 2005: 35. Type genus: Glossotermes Emerson, 1950. Combining stem: Glossotermit–.
46. †Caatingatermitinae Martins-Neto, Ribeiro-Júnior, and Prezoto, 2006: 127, nomen invalidum. Note: I consider this name to be unavailable as the type genus was not explicitly indicated.
47. †Cratomastotermitidae Engel, Grimaldi, and Krishna, 2009: 9. Type genus: †Cratomastotermes Bechly, 2007. Combining stem: Cratomastotermit–.
48. Archotermopsidae Engel, Grimaldi, and Krishna, 2009: 11. Type genus: Archotermopsis Desneux, 1904d. Combining stem: Archotermops–.
Hierarchical and synonymic outline of termite classification (modified after
Infraorder Isoptera Brullé, 1832 | |||||
Family †Cratomastotermitidae Engel et al., 2009 | |||||
Parvorder Euisoptera Engel et al., 2009 | |||||
†Cretatermitinae Emerson, 1967 [1968] | |||||
†Lutetiatermitinae Schlüter, 1989 | |||||
†Carinatermitinae Krishna & Grimaldi, 2000 | |||||
Family Mastotermitidae Desneux, 1904a | |||||
= †Pliotermitinae Pongrácz, 1917 | |||||
= †Miotermitinae Pongrácz, 1926 | |||||
Family †Termopsidae Holmgren, 1911 | |||||
Family Hodotermitidae Desneux, 1904c | |||||
Family Archotermopsidae Engel et al., 2009 | |||||
Family Stolotermitidae Holmgren, 1910a | |||||
Subfamily Porotermitinae Emerson, 1942 | |||||
Subfamily Stolotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a | |||||
Family Kalotermitidae Froggatt, 1897 | |||||
= Glyptotermitinae Froggatt, 1897 | |||||
= †Electrotermitinae Emerson, 1942 | |||||
Nanorder Neoisoptera Engel et al., 2009 | |||||
Family †Archeorhinotermitidae Krishna & Grimaldi, 2003 | |||||
Family Stylotermitidae Holmgren & Holmgren, 1917 | |||||
Family Rhinotermitidae Froggatt, 1897 | |||||
Subfamily Coptotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a | |||||
= Arrhinotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926 | |||||
Subfamily Heterotermitinae Froggatt, 1897 | |||||
= Leucotermitinae Holmgren, 1910a | |||||
Subfamily Prorhinotermitinae Quennedey & Deligne, 1975 | |||||
Subfamily Psammotermitinae Holmgren, 1911 | |||||
Subfamily Termitogetoninae Holmgren, 1910a | |||||
Subfamily Rhinotermitinae Froggatt, 1897 | |||||
Family Serritermitidae Holmgren, 1910a | |||||
= Glossotermitinae Cancello and DeSouza, 2005 | |||||
Family Termitidae Latreille, 1802 | |||||
Subfamily Apicotermitinae Grassé & Noirot, 1954 [1955] | |||||
= Indotermitidae Roonwal & Sen Sarma in Roonwal, 1958 | |||||
Subfamily Foraminitermitinae Holmgren, 1912 | |||||
= Pseudomicrotermitinae Holmgren, 1912 | |||||
Subfamily Sphaerotermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004a | |||||
Subfamily Macrotermitinae Kemner, 1934, nomen protectum [ |
|||||
= Acanthotermitinae Sjöstedt, 1926, nomen rejiciendum [ |
|||||
= Odontotermitini Weidner, 1956 | |||||
Subfamily Syntermitinae Engel & Krishna, 2004a | |||||
= Cornitermitinae Ensaf et al., 2004, nomen nudum | |||||
Subfamily Nasutitermitinae Hare, 1937 | |||||
Subfamily Cubitermitinae Weidner, 1956 | |||||
Subfamily Termitinae Latreille, 1802 | |||||
= Microcerotermitinae Holmgren, 1910b | |||||
= Amitermitinae Kemner, 1934 | |||||
= Mirocapritermitinae Kemner, 1934 | |||||
= Mirotermitini Weidner, 1956 | |||||
= Capritermitini Weidner, 1956 | |||||
Incertae Sedis | |||||
Eutermitinae Holmgren, 1910b |
Here I provide a brief checklist of those names applied to termites above the family-group category. While I have included those supraordinal names which combined termites within an expanded taxon alongside one other group of insects (e.g., Aetioptera Enderlein, 1909), I have not listed those older names which united Isoptera with what are today recognized as numerous other orders (e.g., Platyptera Packard, 1883, for Isoptera, Embiodea, Plecoptera, and Psocoptera). In older literature it is often challenging to determine at what rank a particular name was intended or to what categorical level such a name might be equivalent to today. When it has appeared that a name was intended as a family or category loosely equivalent to today’s family group ranks, I have not included it here. For example, the ‘Termitida’ of
1. Isoptères Brullé, 1832: 66 [Latinized by
2. Orthoptera socialia Gerstaecker, 1863: 40. Originally deemed a ‘guild’ or ‘fraternity’ (“Zunft”, conceptually equivalent in his system to a suborder); equivalent to Isoptera.
3. Socialia Börner, 1904: 526. Originally deemed a suborder; equivalent to Isoptera of today [Note: Börner’s ‘Isoptera’ included both Embiodea (as suborder Oligoneura Börner, 1904) and Isoptera (as Socialia auctorum)].
4. Termiten Krausse, 1906a: 116. Originally deemed an order; equivalent to Isoptera.
5. Aetioptera Enderlein, 1909: 171. Originally deemed a superorder; equivalent to Isoptera + Embiodea [as Embiidina].
6. Cryptoclidoptera Enderlein, 1909: 171. Originally deemed a suborder; equivalent to all Isoptera excluding Mastotermitidae.
7. Hemiclidoptera Enderlein, 1909: 172. Originally deemed a suborder; equivalent to Mastotermitidae.
8. Termitida Krausse and Wolff, 1919: 159 [vide etiam
9. Termitodea Kevan, 1977: 12. Originally deemed a suborder; equivalent to Isoptera + Puknoblattinidea Kevan, 1977 [Note: The latter was simultaneously deemed an infraorder for “Puknoblattinidae Sellards, 1908”, although
10. Termitidea Kevan, 1977: 12. Originally deemed an infraorder; equivalent to Isoptera.
11. Isopterodea Boudreaux, 1979: 217. Originally deemed a superorder; equivalent to Isoptera as it was the only included order.
12. Afontanella Myles, 1998: 334. Originally deemed a suborder; equivalent to Mastotermitidae, Termopsidae s.l., Hodotermitidae, and Kalotermitidae (obviously paraphyletic).
13. Fontanella Myles, 1998: 334. Originally deemed a suborder; equivalent to Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and Termitidae.
14. Octatubula Myles, 1998: 334. Originally deemed an infraorder; equivalent to Rhinotermitidae and Serritermitidae.
15. Quadritubula Myles, 1998: 334. Originally deemed an infraorder; equivalent to Termitidae.
16. Euisoptera Engel, Grimaldi, and Krishna, 2009: 3. Originally rankless; equivalent to all Isoptera exclusive of Cratomastotermitidae and Mastotermitidae.
17. Neoisoptera Engel, Grimaldi, and Krishna, 2009: 9. Originally rankless; equivalent to clade comprising Stylotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Serritermitidae, and Termitidae.
18. Xylophagodea, herein. Originally rankless; equivalent to clade comprising Isoptera and Cryptocercidae.
I am grateful for numerous years of fruitful and enjoyable collaboration with Prof. Kumar Krishna. Dr. David A. Grimaldi and an anonymous reviewer provided valuable input on the manuscript. This is a contribution of the Division of Entomology, University of Kansas Natural History Museum.