# Constrictotermes

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**Constrictotermes**[1] is a genus of [Neotropical](/source/Neotropical_realm) [higher termites](/source/Termitidae) within the subfamily [Nasutitermitinae](/source/Nasutitermitinae).[2] They form large open-air foraging columns from which they travel to and from their sources of food, similar to the [Indomalayan](/source/Indomalayan_realm) species of [processionary termites](/source/Hospitalitermes). Species of this genus commonly build epigeal or arboreal nests and feed on a variety of lichens, rotted woods and mosses.[3][4]

## Description

Soldiers are monomorphic and identifiable with a notable constriction of the head behind the antenna sockets; the antenna have 13-14 articles, and the points of the mandibles are small.[5] Species of this genus are distributed throughout the Neotropics, occurring primarily within South America and Central America; with one species, *C. guantanamensis,* being found within the extreme southeastern coast of Cuba.[6] Within South America, Constrictotermes spp. can be found from the tropical rainforests of the Amazon to the [xeric shrublands](/source/Caatinga) of Northeastern Brazil.

As with all Nasutitermitinae termites, the soldiers are capable of shooting a noxious terpene based chemical repellant from their [fontanellar gun](/source/Fontanellar_gun) that solidifies when exposed to air.

## Species

1. *[Constrictotermes cavifrons](/source/Constrictotermes_cavifrons)*
1. *[Constrictotermes cyphergaster](/source/Constrictotermes_cyphergaster)*
1. *[Constrictotermes guantanamensis](/source/Constrictotermes_guantanamensis)*
1. *[Constrictotermes latinotus](/source/Constrictotermes_latinotus)*
1. *[Constrictotermes rupestris](/source/Constrictotermes_rupestris)*
1. *[Constrictotermes cacaoensis](/source/Constrictotermes_cacaoensis)*

## References

1. Constrictotermes Holmgren, 1910

1. ["Mindat.org"](https://www.mindat.org/taxon-4803111.html). *www.mindat.org*. Retrieved 2022-04-29.

1. ["Termites of the Amazon rainforest - part 2 - Termite Web"](https://www.termiteweb.com/termites-of-the-amazon-rainforest-2/). *www.termiteweb.com*. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2022-04-29.

1. Vasconcellos, Alexandre; Araújo, Virgínia F.P.; Moura, Flávia M.S.; Bandeira, Adelmar G. (October 2007). "Biomass and population structure of Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Silvestri) (Isoptera: termitidae) in the dry forest of caatinga, northeastern Brazil". *Neotropical Entomology*. **36** (5): 693–698. [doi:10.1590/s1519-566x2007000500009](https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-566x2007000500009). [ISSN 1519-566X](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1519-566X). [PMID 18060294](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18060294)

1. CONSTANTINO, REGINALDO (2002-08-29). ["An illustrated key to Neotropical termite genera (Insecta: Isoptera) based primarily on soldiers"](http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.67.1.1). *Zootaxa*. **67** (1): 1. [doi:10.11646/zootaxa.67.1.1](https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.67.1.1). [ISSN 1175-5334](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1175-5334)

1. Krěcěk, Jan; Scheffrahn, Rudolf H.; Roisin, Yves (1996). "Greater Antillean Nasutitermitinae (Isoptera: Termitidae): Constrictotermes guantanamensis, a New Subterranean Termite from Eastern Cuba". *The Florida Entomologist*. **79** (2): 180–187. [doi:10.2307/3495815](https://doi.org/10.2307/3495815). [ISSN 0015-4040](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0015-4040). [JSTOR 3495815](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3495815)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Constrictotermes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictotermes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictotermes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.