Macrotermes Queen vs Tree-Nesting Nasute Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Macrotermes Queen Tree-Nesting Nasute Termite
Scientific Name Macrotermes bellicosus Nasutitermes corniger
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Termitidae Termitidae
Size 100-140 mm (queen) 3-5 mm
Habitat Grasslands Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Africa Central America, South America, Caribbean
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.

Tree-Nesting Nasute Termite

A common arboreal termite in the Americas that builds large dark carton nests in trees. Covered foraging trails extend from the nest down the trunk to the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

Their tree nests can weigh over 50 kilograms and house more than a million individuals.