Conehead Termite vs Golden Buprestid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Conehead Termite Golden Buprestid
Scientific Name Nasutitermes ephratae Sternocera aequisignata
Order Blattodea Coleoptera
Family Termitidae Buprestidae
Size 3-6 mm 25-35 mm
Habitat Woodlands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Central America, Northern South America, Caribbean South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Conehead Termite

A nasute termite of Central America that builds conspicuous dark nests on tree trunks. Soldiers have elongated cone-shaped heads used to spray chemical defenses.

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Did You Know?

An invasive population discovered in Florida in 2001 prompted a multimillion-dollar eradication campaign due to their destructive foraging.

Golden Buprestid

A large, robust jewel beetle with brilliant metallic green and gold elytra adorned with darker punctate depressions. It is commonly found on Ziziphus and other host trees in semi-arid regions.

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Did You Know?

Their wing cases are so brilliantly colored that they have been used in traditional Thai and Indian jewelry and textile embroidery.