Cathedral Termite vs Giant Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cathedral Termite Giant Termite
Scientific Name Nasutitermes triodiae Macrognathotermes sunteri
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Termitidae Termitidae
Size 5-7 mm Workers 6-8 mm; soldiers up to 12 mm
Habitat Grasslands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Oceania Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cathedral Termite

Builds enormous mound structures up to 8 meters tall — the tallest structures relative to builder size of any animal. Mounds have sophisticated ventilation and temperature regulation.

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Did You Know?

Proportionally, termite mounds are the tallest structures built by any animal — if humans built at the same scale, our buildings would be over 1.5 km tall.

Giant Termite

One of Australia's largest termite species with soldiers bearing massive curved mandibles. It builds large dome-shaped mounds in tropical woodland.

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Did You Know?

Its soldiers have such powerful jaws they can draw blood if they bite a human finger.