Flat-footed Scuttle Fly vs Tropical Rough-headed Drywood Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flat-footed Scuttle Fly | Tropical Rough-headed Drywood Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Metopina oligoneura | Cryptotermes dudleyi |
| Order | Diptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Phoridae | Kalotermitidae |
| Size | 1-2 mm | Workers 4-5 mm, soldiers 4-5 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Detritivores | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Pantropical (Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Flat-footed Scuttle Fly
A minute brown phorid fly with broad flattened tarsi and reduced wing venation. It is associated with ant nests where it scavenges on refuse and dead ants.
Did You Know?
It lives inside ant colonies as a tolerated guest, feeding on the waste materials that ants discard in their refuse chambers.
Tropical Rough-headed Drywood Termite
A pantropical drywood termite that infests dead wood and structural timber. Soldiers have a distinctive rough, phragmotic head used to block nest tunnels.
Did You Know?
Soldiers use their plug-shaped heads to physically block tunnel entrances, preventing ant invasions.