Key to American Termite Families and Subfamilies

[WIP]

This key includes the Termitidae subfamilies as well and treats them as seperate

# Imago

1a
--

Fontanelle absent; ocelli absent; antennae usually more than 22 segments; large spines present on shaft and tip of tibia; prominent cerci; large size, 20mm with wings
**→Archotermopsidae: *Zootermopsis***

Ocelli present, antennae less than 23 segments
**→ 2a**

2a
--

Fontanelle absent; pronotum very large, wide as or wider than head, plate like in shape; wings with multiple heavy criss-crossing veins along outer margin
**→Kalotermitidae**

Fontanelle present (may be inconspicuous); pronotum wide as or narrower than head; wings with two heavy veins (no cross veins present anteriorly)
**→3a**

3a
--

Forewing-scales larger than hindwing-scales, slightly overlapping basal portion; wings typically translucent
**→Rhinotermitidae**

Clypeus bilobed or divided by a weak line; forewing-scales and hindwing-scales small and of equal size, forewing-scales never overlaps hindwing-scales; wings typically opaque and with highly reduced venation
**→4a** **(Termitidae)**

4a
--

Pronotum rather large, more or less equal in width of head with a rather straight anterior margin; abdomen stout with broad sternites; wings often twisted at the tips; large in size 17mm - 20mm with wings; Distribution: Western Arizona to central Texas OR fontanelle minute and bifurcate; 15mm with wings (10mm without wings); Distribution: Southern Florida
**→Nasutitermitinae**

Not larger than 15mm with wings, usually much smaller
**→5a**

5a
--

Eyes large; ocelli large and conspicuous, fully their diameter from the eyes; fontanelle inconspicuous, hardly visible if at all; mandibles elongated, about half as long as broad and protruding well infront of the head capsule; ~8mm in length with wings
**→Apicotermitinae: *Anoplotermes fumosus***

Mandibles not elongated; fontanelle typically conspicuous, round or oval
**→Termitinae**

# Soldier

1b
--

Soldier absent; workers with swollen clypeus; abdomen uniform grey (due to gut contents) with transverse white lines
**→Apicotermitinae**

Soldier present
**→2b**

2b
--

Soldier with nasus (long projection on head); mandibles vestigial, reduced to small points
**→Nasutitermitinae**

Soldier without nasus, well developed mandibles
**→3b**

3b
--

Mandibles typically large and robust OR mandibles small with plug like head. Pronotum large; broad as or broader than head
**→Kalotermitidae**

Pronotum not broader then head; crescent or saddle in shape
**→4b**

4b
--

Mandibles thick, serrated, pointed downwards, more or less equal in length with head capsule; fontanelle absent; antennae usually more than 22 segments; cerci prominent; large, typically 15mm - 20mm
**→Archotermopsidae: *Zootermopsis***

Mandibles slender, lacking teeth or symmetrically toothed; fontanelle present
**→5b**

5b
--

Pronotum flat and crescent in shape; mandibles without teeth and curved at tip
**→Rhinotermitidae**

Pronotum saddle shaped; mandibles long and slender, evenly curved or sickle in shape
**→Termitinae**

# Worker (Can also apply to soldiers)

1c
--

Pronotum large, broad as or broader then head
**→[1]**

Pronotum saddle or crescent and flat in shape; mesonotum typically large as or larger than pronotum
**→2c**

2c
--

Pronotum crescent and flat in shape
**→3c**

Pronotum saddle in shape
**→4c**

3c
--

Worker large; maximum of ~10mm; wingbuds often present; abdomen fat, significantly wider than thorax; cerci prominent
**→Archotermopsidae:Zootermopsis**

Worker slender, abdomen not significantly wider than thorax; fontanelle present but inconspicuous
**→Rhinotermitidae**

4c
--

Head pigmented (reddish-brown to brown), epicranial Y-suture prominent; body pigmented grey to yellowish; soldier with nasus
**→Nasutitermitinae**

Worker unpigmented (except for head on occasion)
**→5c**

5c
--

Soldier absent; workers with swollen clypeus; abdomen uniform grey (due to gut contents) with transverse white lines
**→Apicotermitinae**

Soldier abdomen translucent; head may be castaneus
**→Termitinae**

## References

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