Globe Termite vs Sunda Longhorn
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Globe Termite | Sunda Longhorn |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Globitermes sulphureus | Apriona swainsoni |
| Order | Blattodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Termitidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 4-7 mm | 30-45 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Southeast Asia, from Thailand to Indonesia | Indonesia (Java, Sumatra, Borneo), Philippines |
| 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.
Sunda Longhorn
A large olive-grey lamiin with a dense covering of fine pubescence, found in the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines. It attacks a wide range of tropical hardwoods. Adults are nocturnal and attracted to light.
Did You Know?
This species was named after the English naturalist William Swainson, who collected widely in the tropics.