African Nasute Mound Termite vs Powder Post Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Nasute Mound Termite | Powder Post Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nasutitermes latifrons | Cryptotermes primus |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Termitidae | Kalotermitidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | West Africa, Central Africa | Northern and eastern Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Nasute Mound Termite
A mound-building nasute termite found in West and Central African forests. Colonies construct carton mounds at ground level or on tree bases. Soldiers have a broad head with a short, wide nasute projection for spraying defensive terpenes.
Did You Know?
The defensive secretion of nasute soldiers contains terpene compounds that are not only sticky but also toxic to small arthropod predators.
Powder Post Termite
An Australian drywood termite that infests dry structural timber in buildings across tropical and subtropical regions. Colonies are small and produce fine frass pellets that are ejected from the wood. The species rarely requires soil contact.
Did You Know?
Infestations often go unnoticed for years until structural timber is so weakened that it collapses, because workers consume wood from the inside out.