Definitions for isoptera
isopter·a

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Isoptera, order Isopteranoun

   order of social insects that live in colonies, including: termites; often placed in subclass Exopterygota

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. isoptera

   Termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial insects which consume a wide variety of decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, and soil humus. They are easily identified by the typically soft-bodied and unpigmented worker caste for which they have been colloquially termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants, to which they are distantly related. About 2,972 extant species are currently described, 2,105 of which are members of the family Termitidae. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattodea (along with cockroaches). Termites were once classified in a separate order from cockroaches, but recent phylogenetic studies indicate that they evolved from cockroaches, as they are deeply nested within the group, and the sister group to wood eating cockroaches of the genus Cryptocercus. Previous estimates suggested the divergence took place during the Jurassic or Triassic. More recent estimates suggest that they have an origin during the Late Jurassic, with the first fossil records in the Early Cretaceous. Similar to ants and some bees and wasps from the separate order Hymenoptera, most termites have an analogous 'worker' and 'soldier' caste system consisting of mostly sterile individuals which are morphologically and behaviorally distinct. Unlike ants, most colonies begin from reproductively mature individuals called "kings" and "queens" which form monogamous pairs. Also unlike ants, which undergo a complete metamorphosis, termites undergo an incomplete metamorphosis that proceeds through egg, nymph, and adult stages. Termite colonies are commonly described as superorganisms due to the collective behaviors of the individuals which form a self-governing entity: the colony itself. Their colonies range in size from a few hundred individuals to enormous societies with several million individuals. Most species are rarely seen, having a cryptic life-history where they remain hidden within the galleries and tunnels of their nests for most of their lives. Termites' success as a group has led to them colonizing almost every global landmass except Antarctica, with the highest diversity occurring in the tropics where they are estimated to constitute 10% of the biomass, particularly in Africa which has the richest diversity with more than 1000 described species. They are important decomposers of decaying plant matter in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world, and their recycling of wood and plant matter is of considerable ecological importance. Many species are ecosystem engineers capable of altering soil characteristics such as hydrology, decomposition, nutrient cycling, vegetative growth, and consequently surrounding biodiversity through the large mounds constructed by certain species.Termites have several impacts on humans. They are a delicacy in the diet of some human cultures such as the Makiritare in the Alto Orinoco province of Venezuela, where they are commonly used as a spice. They are also used in traditional medicinal treatments of various diseases and ailments, such as influenza, asthma, bronchitis, etc. Termites are most famous for being structural pests, however, the vast majority of termite species are innocuous, with the regional numbers of economically significant species being: North America, 9; Australia, 16; Indian subcontinent, 26; tropical Africa, 24; Central America and the West Indies, 17. Of known pest species, 28 of the most invasive and structurally damaging belong to the genus Coptotermes. The distribution of most known pest species is expected to increase overtime as a consequence of climate change.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. isoptera

   Isoptera is the order of insects that includes termites. These insects are eusocial and are known for their wood-eating habits and complex, hierarchical colony structures. The name "Isoptera" comes from the Greek words "iso", meaning equal, and "ptera", meaning wings, which refers to the equal size of the front and back wings of reproductive termites.

U.S. National Library of MedicineRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Isoptera

   An order of insects, restricted mostly to the tropics, containing at least eight families. A few species occur in temperate regions of North America.

EntomologyRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Isoptera

   equal winged: an ordinal term for insects with four, similar, net-veined wings; mouth mandibulate; thoracic rings similar, loosely jointed metamorphosis incomplete: the Termitidae. {Scanner's note: In modern nomenclature the Isoptera constitute the order of all termites; the Termitidae are just one family within the Isoptera.}

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1. • Animal Order

Anagrams for isoptera »

1. septoria

How to pronounce isoptera?

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Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of isoptera in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of isoptera in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

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References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=isoptera
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoptera
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Entomology
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22748/22748-h/22748-h.htm#:~:text=isoptera