Ahamitermes Amitermes Amphidotermes Cephalotermes Cylindrotermes Drepanotermes Eremotermes Globitermes Gnathamitermes Incolitermes Invasitermes Labritermes Microcerotermes Orientotermes Prohamitermes Pseudhamitermes Pseudomicrotermes Synhamitermes Amitermitinae is a disputed subfamily of "higher termites" now often merged with the subfamily Termitinae[1] and is considered by ITIS as a synonym;[2][3] it had previously been placed in the family Rhinotermitidae.

As a result, the Termitidae can make use of a wide variety of foods; not only rotten wood, but also grass, seeds, dung, soil, and detritus [4][5] are all used by one species or another.

They probably evolved in savanna, monsoon, and desert regions because their runways are not very resistant to rain erosion[7] They use saliva to build runways, and this is an adaptation of an earlier use of saliva to entangle enemies [8] The cemented soil is richer in phosphorus than the soil from which it is derived.

It is probably a major part of the reason why tropical savanna soils are depleted in phosphorus, especially in Australia.

The development of at least 25 fundamentally different sesquiterpenes and several unique cyclic ethers for termite defense in the Amitermitinae [14] hint at considerable success and large numbers in the early years for such systems must be elaborate to evolve.