Light-colored Subterranean Termite vs Western Pine Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Light-colored Subterranean Termite | Western Pine Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heterotermes aureus | Dendroctonus brevicomis |
| Order | Blattodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Curculionidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Arizona, southern California, northwestern Mexico | Western United States from British Columbia to Mexico |
| 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.
Western Pine Beetle
A small dark brown bark beetle that attacks ponderosa pine trees. It is one of the most destructive bark beetles in western forests.
Did You Know?
It uses aggregation pheromones to coordinate mass attacks that can overwhelm a healthy tree's resin defenses.