[4] Anacanthotermes is found in deserts and semideserts of North Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, including Baluchistan and southern India.

[2] Colonies of Microhodotermes viator produce initially small,[6] conical mounds on soil with sufficient clay content.

[7][8] Soon after rain showers, swarms of flying termites, alates or winged reproductives, emerge from their underground nests during summer evenings.

[3] To the contrary, the diet of H. mossambicus consists primarily of ripe and/or frost- or drought-killed grass, though tree and shrub material is consumed to a lesser degree.

[11] Harvester termites form the main component in the diet of the diurnal bat-eared fox in east and southern Africa.

[12] Though the aardwolf is a specialized predator of certain Trinervitermes, they may assume a partially diurnal habit in winter to obtain harvester termites.

[2][3] Over the long term, however, their decomposing and recycling of plant material contribute to soil fertility and the global cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements.