African Cave Cricket vs Madagascar Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute African Cave Cricket Madagascar Termite
Scientific Name Phaeophilacris spectrum Coptotermes truncatus
Order Orthoptera Blattodea
Family Phalangopsidae Rhinotermitidae
Size 15-25 mm 4-8 mm (workers); 5-9 mm (soldiers)
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Fungus Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Africa Madagascar
Conservation Data Deficient Least Concern

African Cave Cricket

A large, pale cave-dwelling cricket found in caves across sub-Saharan Africa. It has greatly reduced eyes and elongated appendages adapted to life in darkness.

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Did You Know?

These crickets are an important part of cave ecosystems, serving as a key food source for cave-dwelling spiders, geckos, and other predators.

Madagascar Termite

A subterranean termite with soft, pale workers and dark-headed soldiers that have elongated, rounded heads equipped with a frontal pore for secreting defensive fluids.

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Did You Know?

Soldiers defend the colony by squirting a sticky, irritating fluid from a gland on their head, entangling attackers like ants.