Long-jawed Desert Termite vs Macrotermes Queen
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Long-jawed Desert Termite | Macrotermes Queen |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Psammotermes hybostoma | Macrotermes bellicosus |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 5-8 mm | 100-140 mm (queen) |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | North Africa, Sahara, Middle East | Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Long-jawed Desert Termite
A sand-dwelling termite found across the Sahara and arid North Africa, uniquely adapted to life in loose desert sands. Colonies build nests in sandy soil without constructing permanent mounds. Workers forage underground for buried plant debris.
Did You Know?
This species can locate and exploit tiny fragments of buried vegetation in apparently barren sand, detecting wood through vibrations in the soil.
Macrotermes Queen
Queens can live for over 25 years (possibly up to 50) and grow to enormous size — a single queen lays up to 30,000 eggs per day, more than any other insect.
Did You Know?
A Macrotermes queen can live 25-50 years and produce up to 30,000 eggs per day — her abdomen swells so large that she becomes physically incapable of moving.