Grallatotermes Bark Termite vs Ant-Mimicking Treehopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Grallatotermes Bark Termite Ant-Mimicking Treehopper
Scientific Name Grallatotermes africanus Cyphonia clavata
Order Blattodea Hemiptera
Family Termitidae Membracidae
Size 3-5 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Gall Makers Predators
Regions West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Grallatotermes Bark Termite

An African arboreal termite that builds thin sheeting galleries over tree bark surfaces. Workers forage beneath these protective coverings, consuming bark and lichen. The species is common in tropical African forests.

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Did You Know?

The thin carton galleries this species builds over tree bark are so extensive they can cover entire tree trunks, making the tree appear to be coated in mud.

Ant-Mimicking Treehopper

A treehopper with a pronotal projection shaped like an ant sitting on its back. The ant mimic is thought to deter predators from attacking.

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Did You Know?

The "ant" on its back is actually a hollow extension of its pronotum viewed from certain angles.