Melqartitermitidae Engel, 2021

JIANG, RI-XIN, ZHANG, HONG-RUI, ELDREDGE, K. TARO, SONG, XIAO-BIN, LI, YAN-DA, TIHELKA, ERIK, HUANG, DI-YING, WANG, SHUO, ENGEL, MICHAEL S. & CAI, CHEN-YANG, 2021, Further evidence of Cretaceous termitophily: Description of new termite hosts of the trichopseniine Cretotrichopsenius (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), with emendations to the classification of lower termites (Isoptera), Palaeoentomology 4 (4), pp. 374-389 : 380

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.