Globe Termite vs Drywood Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Globe Termite | Drywood Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Globitermes sulphureus | Cryptotermes brevis |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Termitidae | Kalotermitidae |
| Size | 4-7 mm | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Indoors |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia, from Thailand to Indonesia | North America, South America, Central America, Africa, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Globe Termite
A Southeast Asian termite with soldiers that practice autothysis, or suicidal self-destruction. When threatened, soldiers contract their abdominal muscles to rupture their body wall, releasing a yellow, sticky secretion that entangles attackers. Colonies build small carton nests.
Did You Know?
Soldiers literally explode when attacked, rupturing a gland filled with toxic yellow liquid that solidifies into a sticky trap, sacrificing themselves for the colony.
Drywood Termite
A small termite that lives entirely within dry wood without needing contact with soil. It forms small colonies inside furniture, structural timbers, and dead branches.
Did You Know?
Drywood termites produce distinctive hexagonal fecal pellets that they kick out of tiny holes in wood, often the first sign of their presence.