Light-colored Subterranean Termite vs Malaysian Trilobite Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Light-colored Subterranean Termite | Malaysian Trilobite Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heterotermes aureus | Platerodrilus ruficollis |
| Order | Blattodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Lycidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 40-80 mm females, 8-10 mm males |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Arizona, southern California, northwestern Mexico | Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia) |
| 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.
Malaysian Trilobite Beetle
A bizarre beetle whose larviform females retain a flat, segmented larval appearance throughout life, resembling ancient trilobites. Males are small, winged, and conventionally beetle-shaped.
Did You Know?
The flat, armored female looks so unlike a typical beetle that it was originally described as a separate species from the male.