Milk Termite vs Underground Army Ant

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Milk Termite Underground Army Ant
Scientific Name Schedorhinotermes lamanianus Labidus coecus
Order Blattodea Hymenoptera
Family Rhinotermitidae Formicidae
Size Workers 4-5 mm, major soldiers 7-8 mm 2-7 mm
Habitat Caves Caves
Diet Wood Feeders Omnivores
Regions Northern Australia Southern United States, Central America, South America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

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.

Underground Army Ant

A mostly subterranean army ant that occasionally surfaces in massive raiding columns across the Americas. Workers are pale yellow, reflecting their underground lifestyle.

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Did You Know?

They are the most frequently encountered army ants in the Americas but are rarely seen because of their subterranean habits.