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 →

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