Cubitermitinae

The Cubitermitinae are an Afrotropical subfamily of higher termites with 28 known genera and 147 species.^[1][2][3][4] The nests of most taxa are either subterranean or found within the mounds of other termite species. The most well known genus of this subfamily is Cubitermes, which commonly build epigeal nests with one or more caps used to shield the nest against rainfall, giving them a characteristic mushroom shape.^[5] Most members of this subfamily are soil-feeders.

Cubitermitinae
Mushroom-shaped nest of Cubitermes sp.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Infraorder:	Isoptera
Family:	Termitidae
Subfamily:	Cubitermitinae Weidner, 1956: 99

Identification

The gut of workers have a specialized blind caecum/diverticulum connected to proctodeal 3 and a complex physiology that regulates the pH and oxygen supply in the gut compartments.^[6][5]

Soldiers have a generally subrectangular head capsule with a projection anterior to the frontal gland with the fontanelle being conspicuous and sunken in a pit or groove. The labrum is strongly bifurcated and the antennae have 14 - 15 articles (antennomeres).^[5]

Genera

The following genera are currently recognized:^[4]

• Apilitermes
• Basidentitermes
• Batillitermes
• Crenetermes
• Cubitermes
• Euchilotermes
• Fastigitermes
• Furculitermes
• Isognathotermes
• Lepidotermes
• Megagnathotermes
• Mucrotermes
• Nitiditermes
• Noditermes
• Okavangotermes
• Ophiotermes
• Orthotermes
• Ovambotermes
• Pilotermes
• Polyspathotermes
• Proboscitermes
• Procubitermes
• Profastigitermes
• Ternicubitermes
• Thoracotermes
• Trapellitermes
• Unguitermes
• Unicornitermes