Philippine Milk Termite vs Tumulitermes Mound Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Milk Termite | Tumulitermes Mound Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coptotermes vastator | Tumulitermes pastinator |
| Order | Blattodea | Blattodea |
| Family | Rhinotermitidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 4-6 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Philippines | Northern Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Philippine Milk Termite
The most destructive termite species in the Philippines, causing severe damage to buildings, trees, and crops. Colonies can be enormous with millions of workers. Soldiers produce a white, milky defensive secretion from the frontal gland.
Did You Know?
This species is so destructive in the Philippines that entire coconut plantations have been devastated, leading to major government-funded control programs.
Tumulitermes Mound Termite
An Australian grass-harvesting termite that builds small columnar mounds in tropical savannas. Workers forage in open columns to harvest grass during cooler parts of the day. Nasute soldiers protect the foraging parties from ant attacks.
Did You Know?
This species times its foraging precisely to avoid the heat of the day, emerging in synchronized mass foraging events at dawn and dusk.