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The Kalotermitidae are a family of termites, commonly known as drywood termites. Kalotermitidae includes 21 genera and 419 species. It has a cosmopolitan circumtropical distribution, and is found in functionally arid environments. ==Biology== Kalotermitidae is "primitive" in its morphology, nesting behavior and social organization. Unlike other termite species they have no need to make contact with soil〔Arnett, Ross H. 2000. American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico. CRC Press. 2nd Edition.〕 and live exclusively within excavations in wood, lacking elaborate nesting architecture.〔(Thompson GJ, Miller LR, Lenz M, and Crozier RH. 2000. Phylogenetic analysis and trait evolution in Australian lineages of drywood termites (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae). )〕 Drywood termites have an adaptive mechanism for conserving water. Undigested matter in the alimentary canal passes through specialized rectal glands in the hindgut. These glands reabsorb water from the feces. They can tolerate dry conditions for long periods of time, receiving all of the moisture they need from the wood they live in and consume. Their mandibles are also fortified with zinc, as an adaptation to the mechanically difficult food source of dry wood.〔(Nalepa CA. 2015. Origin of termite eusociality: trophallaxis integrates the social, nutritional, and microbial environments. )〕 Their diet of dry wood makes many of them economic and urban pests, causing damage to furniture, utility towers, stored wood, and buildings. Kalotermitids' global distribution may be partially attributable to rafting and timber movement.〔Abe T, Bignell DE, and Higashi M. 2000. Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. Kluwer Academic Publishers.〕 The species Cryptotermes brevis is particularly prevalent as a pest in the United States, and is found in Hawaii, Florida, and along the southeastern coast. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kalotermitidae」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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