Giant Northern Termite vs Bilobatus Soil Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Northern Termite | Bilobatus Soil Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mastotermes darwiniensis | Cubitermes bilobatodes |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Mastotermitidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 10-15mm | 4-5 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania | Central and West Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Northern Termite
The most primitive living termite and the only surviving member of its family. It retains many cockroach-like features including laying eggs in cockroach-like oothecae. It is extremely destructive to timber.
Did You Know?
It is a living fossil, the most primitive termite alive, retaining cockroach-like features that link termites to their ancestors.
Bilobatus Soil Termite
An African soil-feeding termite found in moist forests and forest-savanna transitional zones. Mounds are small and may have a single cap or multiple cap layers. Workers feed on the highly organic upper soil layers.
Did You Know?
The soil processed and expelled by Cubitermes colonies has significantly altered mineral composition compared to surrounding soil, creating distinct micro-habitats.