Malagasy Mound-building Termite vs Western Balsam Bark Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Mound-building Termite | Western Balsam Bark Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Microcerotermes subtilis | Dryocoetes confusus |
| Order | Blattodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Termitidae | Curculionidae (Scolytinae) |
| Size | 3-5 mm | 3.2–4.5 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Mountains |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Madagascar | Western North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Malagasy Mound-building Termite
A small termite species that constructs conspicuous carton mounds on tree trunks or the ground. Workers are pale and soft-bodied with darkened head capsules.
Did You Know?
Its dark carton mounds are made from a mixture of soil, chewed wood, and fecal material cemented together, and they can persist for years even after the colony dies.
Western Balsam Bark Beetle
A bark beetle that primarily attacks subalpine fir in western North America. It often colonizes trees already weakened by root disease.
Did You Know?
It produces a pheromone called exo-brevicomin that attracts other beetles to mass-attack weakened trees.