Australian Satin Sawfly vs Speculitermes Inquiline

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Australian Satin Sawfly Speculitermes Inquiline
Scientific Name Perga lewisi Speculitermes cyclops
Order Hymenoptera Blattodea
Family Pergidae Termitidae
Size 14-20 mm 2-4 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Herbivores Omnivores
Regions Australia India, Sri Lanka
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Australian Satin Sawfly

A large Australian sawfly with a satiny dark blue-black body. Larvae are robust and feed in clusters on eucalyptus foliage.

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Did You Know?

The larvae tap their bodies rhythmically against the branch when disturbed, producing vibrations that may alert other larvae in the colony.

Speculitermes Inquiline

A small soil-feeding termite from India that is notable for being an inquiline, living within the mounds of larger termite species. Workers are pale and blind, feeding on organic soil within the host mound. Colonies are small and inconspicuous.

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Did You Know?

This termite is a mound parasite, secretly living inside the walls of other termites' nests and feeding on soil without the host colony apparently noticing.