Firebrat vs Lacteus Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Firebrat | Lacteus Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Thermobia domestica | Coptotermes lacteus |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Lepismatidae | Rhinotermitidae |
| Size | 10-15 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Indoors | Woodlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Worldwide | Eastern Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Firebrat
A heat-loving relative of the silverfish that thrives at temperatures of 37-39C. Found near furnaces, boilers, and bakeries. One of the most thermophilic household insects.
Did You Know?
Firebrats seek out the hottest spots in buildings — they have been found living happily inside commercial bread ovens and next to industrial furnaces at nearly 40C.
Lacteus Termite
An Australian mound-building termite that constructs distinctive dark, hard-walled mounds up to 2 meters tall. The mounds are a common sight in pastures and open woodland across eastern Australia. Workers are pale and soft-bodied with gut protozoa for cellulose digestion.
Did You Know?
Their mounds are so durable that they persist for decades after the colony dies and are sometimes used as road-building material in rural Australia.