Termites are eusocial insects that are classified at the taxonomic rank of infraorder lsoptera, or as epifamily Termitoidae within the Cockroach order Blattodea. Termites were ones classified in a separate order from cockroaches, but recent phylogenetic studies indicate that they evolved f rom close ancestors of cockroaches during the Jurassic or Triassic. However, the first termites possibly emerged during the Permian or even the Carboniferous. About 3106 species are currently described, with a few hundred more Left to be described.
