From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Termes \Ter"mes\ (t[~e]r"m[=e]z), n.; pl. Termites (-m[i^]*t[=e]z). [L. termes, tarmes, -itis, a woodworm. Cf. Termite.] (Zool.) A genus of Pseudoneuroptera including the white ants, or termites. See Termite. [1913 Webster]From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) :
Termes n 1: type genus of the Termitidae [syn: Termes, genus Termes]