9870097 Krishna The order Isoptera (termites) comprises about 2,300 described and several hundred undescribed species (living and fossil), classified into 6 families, 12 subfamilies, and 290 genera. In spite of its comparatively small size, because the order has generated great interest, a massive body of literature has been produced on all aspects of termite biology. Aside from their notorious inportance as insect pests, termites, because of their intricate social biology and their critical importance in the ecosystem as recyclers of cellulose, have attracted the attention of a wide range of researchers in many fields: evolutionary biology, ecology, behavior, physiology, economic biology, genetics, cytology, and other areas of investigation. The aim of this project is to create a taxonomic database of the termites of the world. The database (and the printed volume derived from it) will provide complete and up-to-date references to all systematic, zoogeographical, and biological information available for each species of Isoptera. The database will be put on line on the World-Wide Web, where it will provide comprehensive and current information to biologists around the world and will serve as a global data bank for the future.
