Termitotroginae

Termitotroginae
Termitotrox cupido
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Superfamily:	Scarabaeoidea
Family:	Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:	Termitotroginae
Genus
Termitotrox - Reichensperger, 1915
Synonyms
Aphodiocopris

Termitotrox - Reichensperger, 1915

Aphodiocopris

Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is Termititrox. A second genus, Aphodiocopris, Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with Termitotrox. All known members of this subfamily are tiny, blind and flightless, and dwell within the fungal gardens of colonies of species of termite in Africa or tropical Asia.

Termitotrogins are characterised by having no eyes and no wings, and their pronotum and elytra have a distinctive patterning of ribs and grooves. The function of the beetles in the termite colony is unclear but it seems that they are likely to be obligatory termitophiles and somehow play an important role in the nest environment of their fungus-growing hosts.

The following species are included in the genus Termitotrox:

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