biostudies-literatureZaman MKing Saud Universitye71993https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12355010biostudies-literatureUnknown15(8)Termites are eusocial insects, found widely in the tropics of the world. They are known as serious pests to agriculture, forestry, and structures, but they also act as key ecological engineers in the wild. We assessed termites diversity in three districts (Buner, Swabi and Haripur), which belong to various agro-ecological regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan; Oriental region). Sampling was done either by breaking visible mud galleries or by using modified NIFA termaps. Fourteen characters/indices were assessed for species morphometrics and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and DNA was extracted from the identified soldier caste in each sample for MtDNA COII barcoding. An identification key and distribution map were made for <i>Heterotermes gretudae</i> (MZ018116.1) and <i>HeterotermesEcology and evolutionUpdating the Systematic Status of Genus &lt;i&gt;Heterotermes&lt;/i&gt; (Rhinotermitidae: Isoptera: Blattodea) by Combining Morphometric Analysis, Distribution Mapping, and DNA Barcoding Approaches.PMC12355010ORF‐2025‐123Azad RZaman MFaheem BALmunqedhi BMShilin TKhan AKhan IAAli HMRafiq NFaraz AfalseUpdating the Systematic Status of Genus &lt;i&gt;Heterotermes&lt;/i&gt; (Rhinotermitidae: Isoptera: Blattodea) by Combining Morphometric Analysis, Distribution Mapping, and DNA Barcoding Approaches.Termites are eusocial insects, found widely in the tropics of the world. They are known as serious pests to agriculture, forestry, and structures, but they also act as key ecological engineers in the wild. We assessed termites diversity in three districts (Buner, Swabi and Haripur), which belong to various agro-ecological regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan; Oriental region). Sampling was done either by breaking visible mud galleries or by using modified NIFA termaps. Fourteen characters/indices were assessed for species morphometrics and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and DNA was extracted from the identified soldier caste in each sample for MtDNA COII barcoding. An identification key and distribution map were made for <i>Heterotermes gretudae</i> (MZ018116.1) and <i>Heterotermes2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-05-29T17:55:58.578Z2026-05-18T03:07:23.09ZS-EPMC123550104082304910.1002/ece3.71993