Malaysian Tree Termite vs Milk Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malaysian Tree Termite Milk Termite
Scientific Name Hospitalitermes hospitalis Schedorhinotermes lamanianus
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Termitidae Rhinotermitidae
Size 3-5 mm Workers 4-5 mm, major soldiers 7-8 mm
Habitat Forests Caves
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo Northern Australia
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Malaysian Tree Termite

A remarkable open-air foraging nasutitermine termite from Southeast Asian rainforests. Workers forage in exposed columns along tree trunks and branches to collect lichen and algae. Nasute soldiers line the edges of foraging columns to provide defense.

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Did You Know?

Foraging columns can stretch over 100 meters through the forest canopy, with soldiers stationed at regular intervals along the exposed trail like sentries.

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.