Isoptera (Noun)
Meaning
Order of social insects that live in colonies, including: termites; often placed in subclass Exopterygota.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The insect order Isoptera is divided into seven families, with most species belonging to the families Termitidae and Rhinotermitidae.
- Although termites resemble ants, both insects belong to different orders, with termites placed in the order Isoptera.
- One characteristic that distinguishes the order Isoptera from other insects is the absence of distinct wing veins on their wings.
- In the past, Isoptera was used as the order name for termites, but some modern classifications have replaced it with Blattodea or used both names interchangeably.
- Isoptera often includes several extinct families that are now studied through fossil records, providing a glimpse into the evolutionary history of the order.