Giant Termite vs Stridulating Passalid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Termite Stridulating Passalid
Scientific Name Macrognathotermes sunteri Passalus punctatostriatus
Order Blattodea Coleoptera
Family Termitidae Passalidae
Size Workers 6-8 mm; soldiers up to 12 mm 30-42 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Australia Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Termite

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

💡

Did You Know?

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

Stridulating Passalid

A large, shiny black bess beetle with prominently punctate-striate elytra and strong mandibles. It lives in family groups within decaying logs. Known for producing a wide repertoire of stridulatory sounds for communication.

💡

Did You Know?

Adults produce sounds by rubbing specialized ridges on the abdomen against the underside of the wings, creating at least 14 distinct calls.