Melqartitermitidae Engel, fam. nov.

Type genus. Melqartitermes Engel et al., 2007 .

Diagnosis. The Melqartitermitidae are a peculiar Early Cretaceous group of primitive termites. Like Mastotermitidae and some other basal families, melqartitermitids have wholly pentamerous tarsi and a large flat pronotum. However, unlike Mastotermitidae the hind wing lacks an anal lobe and ocelli are lacking (absent in Mastotermitinae). Unlike Archotermopsidae a subsidiary tooth is present and the radial field is narrow, closer in form to that of Stolotermitidae (but this family has tetramerous tarsi, lacks a subsidiary tooth, and has a smaller pronotum). Like Mastotermitidae and other early diverging families, Melqartitermitidae have a large forewing scale with all primary veins originating within the scale. Aside from its unique combination of traits, the family differs from others in the primitive retention of a ventral cervical sclerite. In this respect it resembles Mylacrotermitidae Engel, fam. nov. (vide infra), from which it differs in the presence of a defined forewing basal suture.