Soil-feeder
Guides
Termitidae
Higher Termites
Termitidae is the largest family of termites, containing over 2,100 described species and representing the most evolutionarily specialized termite group. Members lack the flagellated protozoan symbionts found in lower termites, instead relying on bacterial and archaeal gut symbionts for digestion. This family exhibits exceptional dietary diversity, with approximately 60% of species being soil-feeders and others consuming wood, grass, leaf litter, fungi, lichen, and humus. Termitidae encompasses multiple subfamilies including Macrotermitinae (fungus-growing termites), Nasutitermitinae (nasute termites with defensive frontal projections), and numerous soil-feeding lineages.