Light-colored Subterranean Termite vs Black Mound Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Light-colored Subterranean Termite | Black Mound Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heterotermes aureus | Amitermes evuncifer |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 3-8 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arizona, southern California, northwestern Mexico | West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Light-colored Subterranean Termite
A desert-adapted subterranean termite common in the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Colonies build extensive underground tunnel systems and infest structural wood. Workers are pale golden-yellow in color.
Did You Know?
This is the most common structural pest termite in the Sonoran Desert region, thriving in one of the hottest and driest environments inhabited by any termite.
Black Mound Termite
A soil-feeding termite that builds small dark mounds in West African savannas. Workers process soil organic matter and play an important role in nutrient cycling. Colonies are smaller than Macrotermes species.
Did You Know?
These termites process so much soil that they are considered ecosystem engineers, significantly altering soil structure and fertility.