| Hodotermitidae Temporal range:
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| H. mossambicus worker and soldier | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Infraorder: | Isoptera |
| Parvorder: | Euisoptera |
| Family: | Hodotermitidae Desneux, 1904 |
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The Hodotermitidae (from Greek ὁδός (hodós), travelling; Latin termes, woodworm) are a basal Old World family of termites known as the harvester termites.[1] They are distinguished by the serrated inner edge of their mandibles, and their functional compound eyes which are present in all castes.[2] They forage for grass at night and during daylight hours, and the pigmented workers[3] are often observed outside the nest.[2] Their range includes the deserts and savannas of Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia.[1] Their English name refers to their habit of collecting grass, which is not unique to the family however.[2]
- ^ a b Abe, Takuya; et al. (2000–2002). Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp. 35–36. ISBN 978-0-7923-6361-3.
- ^ a b c Scholtz, Clarke H.; et al. (1985). Insects of Southern Africa. Durban: Butterworths. p. 57. ISBN 978-0409-10487-5.
- ^ Picker, Mike; et al. (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.