Anacanthotermes macrocephalus 大头无刺白蚁
- Type locality
- Pakistan: Sind: Karachi
- Distribution
- India, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan
List： English (genus page) · 中文 · Español
Summary
Anacanthotermes macrocephalus is a species of the genus Anacanthotermes, in the family HODOTERMITIDAE. The species was described by Desneux in 1906; the type locality is Pakistan: Sind: Karachi. Distribution: India, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan. This site records 1 junior synonym for the species.
Etymology
Genus name Anacanthotermes: From Greek an- (without) + akantha (thorn) + Latin termes, ‘thornless termite’.
Specific epithet macrocephalus: Greek makros (large) + kephalē (head), large-headed
Taxonomic position
- Family: HODOTERMITIDAE — 3 genera, 21 species
- Genus: Anacanthotermes — 16 species
- Type species of the genus: Anacanthotermes ochraceus
Distribution
- Distribution records: India, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan
The record above follows the wording of the original data; no geocoding or standardized place names have been applied.
Junior synonyms
This site records 1 junior synonym for the species, listed by its original literature source:
- Anacanthotermes peshawarensis Akhtar, 1974: 40-44 — type locality: Pakistan: Peshawar
In older literature, regional checklists and database searches, this species may appear under the synonym Anacanthotermes peshawarensis; this site treats it under Anacanthotermes macrocephalus.
Morphology
A species-level description from the original literature has not yet been compiled for this page. Original description: Desneux, 1906. See the genus page for the genus-level description; this page will be updated after the original text is checked.
Distribution map
Aggregated from GBIF occurrence records on a 1° grid; only extant taxa of this checklist are used, so fossil records are excluded. Dot size and shade show the number of records inside a cell.
Related papers
Cached papers for this genus (matched automatically, for reference); to search this species with its junior synonyms merged in, use the literature search.
- TERMITES OF THE GENUS ANACANTHOTERMES
Abstract
Termites are eusocial insects with a wide Old World distribution, notable for their dual role as ecosystem engineers and structural pests. In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, termites accelerate decomposition and nutrient cycling, yet can also damage wooden structures and crops. The genus Anacanthotermes (Family Hodotermitidae) comprises so-called “harvester termites” found in the deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. These termites forage on dry grasses and plant debris, storing material in extensive underground nests. In Central Asia (e.g. Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region), Anacanthotermes species infest dry landscapes as well as irrigated oases and even urban settlements. This thesis reviews up-to-date knowledge of Anacanthotermes biology (morphology and life cycle), distribution and habitat preferences, ecological significance (feeding behavior and effects on soil fertility), and economic importance (both beneficial effects and damage caused). The objective is to synthesize recent scientific findings on this genus, highlighting its roles in ecosystems and impacts on human environments.
- TERMITES OF THE GENUS ANACANTHOTERMES
Abstract
Termites are eusocial insects with a wide Old World distribution, notable for their dual role as ecosystem engineers and structural pests[1][2]. In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, termites accelerate decomposition and nutrient cycling, yet can also damage wooden structures and crops. The genus Anacanthotermes (Family Hodotermitidae) comprises so-called “harvester termites” found in the deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia[2]. These termites forage on dry grasses and plant debris, storing material in extensive underground nests[3]. In Central Asia (e.g. Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region), Anacanthotermes species infest dry landscapes as well as irrigated oases and even urban settlements[4][5]. This thesis reviews up-to-date knowledge of Anacanthotermes biology (morphology and life cycle), distribution and habitat preferences, ecological significance (feeding behavior and effects on soil fertility), and economic importance (both beneficial effects and damage caused). The objective is to synthesize recent scientific findings on this genus, highlighting its roles in ecosystems and impacts on human environments.
- Lipofuscin in the termite Anacanthotermes ahngerianus
Abstract
Papers on this species, synonyms included → OpenAlex Google Scholar CNKI
Abstracts come from open metadata; copyright remains with the original authors/publishers. For reference only — please check the original.
Literature notes
Edited notes based on the original literature, not transcriptions. The source markers in each paragraph point to archived records in .sources; full citations are listed below.
Taxonomy and synonymy
According to Roonwal & Bose's (1988) study, Anacanthotermes macrocephalus was originally described by Desneux (1906) as Hodotermes macrocephalus (an old combination in Hodotermes, now placed in Anacanthotermes macrocephalus), with the type locality in Sind (Karachi and vicinity); the paper assigns it to Anacanthotermes and lists the old synonym of Anacanthotermes, Anacanthotermes peshawarensis (now placed in Anacanthotermes macrocephalus), as a junior synonym; its English name is North Indian Harvester Termite.
References
Other species in Anacanthotermes (15 species)
- Anacanthotermes ahngerianus
- Anacanthotermes baeckmannianus
- Anacanthotermes baluchistanicus
- Anacanthotermes esmailii
- Anacanthotermes gurganiensis
- Anacanthotermes iranicus
- Anacanthotermes murgabicus
- Anacanthotermes ochraceus
- Anacanthotermes saudiensis
- Anacanthotermes sawensis
- Anacanthotermes septentrionalis
- Anacanthotermes turkestanicus
- Anacanthotermes ubachi
- Anacanthotermes vagans
- Anacanthotermes viarum
Cite this species
Citation strings are generated from the fields of this page; please keep the DOI and the version number when citing.
GB/T 7714
班奈特格林. Extant Isoptera (termites): a checklist of Latin and Chinese names: Anacanthotermes macrocephalus 大头无刺白蚁[EB/OL]. Version 2026.10.30. https://termite-extant-isoptera.org/en/species/anacanthotermes-macrocephalus/. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23646836.
BibTeX
@misc{isoptera_anacanthotermes_macrocephalus_2026,
author = {班奈特格林},
title = {Anacanthotermes macrocephalus: a checklist of extant Isoptera (termites)},
year = {2026},
version = {2026.10.30},
howpublished = {https://termite-extant-isoptera.org/en/species/anacanthotermes-macrocephalus/},
note = {HODOTERMITIDAE; version 2026.10.30; DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23646836},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23646836}
}
RIS
TY - ELEC TI - Anacanthotermes macrocephalus: a checklist of extant Isoptera (termites) AU - 班奈特格林 PY - 2026 UR - https://termite-extant-isoptera.org/en/species/anacanthotermes-macrocephalus/ DO - 10.5281/zenodo.23646836 ER -