Editing Termite (section)

==Distribution and diversity==
Termites are found on all continents except [[Antarctica]]. The diversity of termite species is low in [[North America]] and [[Europe]] (10 species known in Europe and 50 in North America), but is high in [[South America]], where over 400 species are known.<ref name=tbiology>{{cite web|title=Termite Biology and Ecology|url=http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/termites/termite_ch2.htm|work=Division of Technology, Industry and Economics Chemicals Branch|publisher=United Nations Environment Programme|access-date=12 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110052539/http://www.chem.unep.ch/pops/termites/termite_ch2.htm|archive-date=10 November 2014}}</ref> Of the 2,972 extant termite species currently classified, 1,000 are found in [[Africa]], where mounds are extremely abundant in certain regions. Approximately 1.1&nbsp;million active termite mounds can be found in the northern [[Kruger National Park]] alone.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Meyer|first1=V.W.|last2=Braack |first2=L.E.O.|last3=Biggs |first3=H.C.|last4=Ebersohn|first4=C.|title=Distribution and density of termite mounds in the northern Kruger National Park, with specific reference to those constructed by ''Macrotermes'' Holmgren (Isoptera: Termitidae)|journal=African Entomology|date=1999|volume=7|issue=1|pages=123–130|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259487863}}</ref> In [[Asia]], there are 435 species of termites, which are mainly distributed in [[China]]. Within China, termite species are restricted to mild [[tropical]] and [[subtropical]] habitats south of the Yangtze River.<ref name=tbiology/> In [[Australia]], all ecological groups of termites (dampwood, drywood, subterranean) are [[Endemism|endemic]] to the country, with over 360 classified species.<ref name=tbiology/> Because termites are highly social and abundant, they represent a disproportionate amount of the world's insect [[biomass (ecology)|biomass]]. Termites and [[ant]]s comprise about 1% of insect species, but represent more than 50% of insect biomass.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1146/annurev-environ-012420-050035|doi-access=free|title=The State of the World's Insects|year=2020|last1=Eggleton|first1=Paul|journal=Annual Review of Environment and Resources|volume=45|pages=61–82}}</ref>

Due to their soft cuticles, termites do not inhabit cool or cold habitats.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sanderson|first1=M.G.|title=Biomass of termites and their emissions of methane and carbon dioxide: A global database|journal=Global Biogeochemical Cycles|date=1996|volume=10|issue=4|pages=543–557|doi=10.1029/96GB01893|bibcode=1996GBioC..10..543S}}</ref> There are three ecological groups of termites: dampwood, drywood and subterranean. Dampwood termites are found only in coniferous forests, and drywood termites are found in hardwood forests; subterranean termites live in widely diverse areas.<ref name=tbiology/> One species in the drywood group is the West Indian drywood termite ''([[Cryptotermes brevis]])'', which is an invasive species in Australia.<ref name=Heather1971>{{cite journal|last1=Heather|first1=N.W.|title=The exotic drywood termite ''Cryptotermes brevis'' (Walker) (Isoptera : Kalotermitidae) and endemic Australian drywood termites in Queensland|journal=Australian Journal of Entomology|date=1971|volume=10|issue=2|pages=134–141|doi=10.1111/j.1440-6055.1971.tb00022.x|doi-access=free}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width:80%;"
|+ Diversity of Isoptera by continent: 
|-
|
! scope="col" | [[Asia]]
! scope="col" | [[Africa]]
! scope="col" | [[North America]]
! scope="col" | [[South America]]
! scope="col" | [[Europe]]
! scope="col" | [[Australia]]
|-
! scope="row" | Estimated number of species
| 435
| 1,000
| 50
| 400
| 10
| 360
|}