Macrotermes Queen vs Milk Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Macrotermes Queen Milk Termite
Scientific Name Macrotermes bellicosus Schedorhinotermes lamanianus
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Termitidae Rhinotermitidae
Size 100-140 mm (queen) Workers 4-5 mm, major soldiers 7-8 mm
Habitat Grasslands Caves
Diet Fungus Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Africa Northern Australia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

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.

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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.

Milk Termite

A large subterranean termite from tropical Australia with two distinct soldier sizes. Major soldiers have large mandibles while minor soldiers are smaller.

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Did You Know?

It gets its common name from the milky white secretion that soldiers exude when the colony is disturbed.