Lacteus Termite vs Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lacteus Termite | Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coptotermes lacteus | Profenusa thomsoni |
| Order | Blattodea | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Eastern Australia | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lacteus Termite
An Australian mound-building termite that constructs distinctive dark, hard-walled mounds up to 2 meters tall. The mounds are a common sight in pastures and open woodland across eastern Australia. Workers are pale and soft-bodied with gut protozoa for cellulose digestion.
Did You Know?
Their mounds are so durable that they persist for decades after the colony dies and are sometimes used as road-building material in rural Australia.
Pale-Footed Birch Sawfly
A tiny black sawfly whose larvae create distinctive blotch mines within birch leaves. Mined leaves develop brown, papery patches.
Did You Know?
Heavy infestations can cause over 80 percent of birch leaves to become mined, giving trees a scorched appearance by late summer.