Arid-land Subterranean Termite vs Spruce Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arid-land Subterranean Termite | Spruce Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Reticulitermes tibialis | Dendroctonus rufipennis |
| Order | Blattodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Curculionidae |
| Size | Workers 3-4 mm, soldiers 4-5 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Caves | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Western and central United States | Alaska, western Canada, and the Rocky Mountain states |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Arid-land Subterranean Termite
A subterranean termite adapted to dry conditions in the western United States. It builds mud tubes across exposed surfaces to maintain humidity.
Did You Know?
It thrives in desert conditions where annual rainfall is less than 250 mm by deeply tapping soil moisture.
Spruce Beetle
A dark brown to black bark beetle that is the primary killer of mature spruce trees in North America. Outbreaks are triggered by drought, windthrow, or warming temperatures.
Did You Know?
A single outbreak in Alaska during the 1990s killed spruce trees across more than one million acres.