South American Tree Termite vs Lacteus Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute South American Tree Termite Lacteus Termite
Scientific Name Nasutitermes similis Coptotermes lacteus
Order Blattodea Blattodea
Family Termitidae Rhinotermitidae
Size 4-6 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Gall Makers Wood Feeders
Regions Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay Eastern Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

South American Tree Termite

A common Neotropical nasute termite building carton nests on trees throughout South American forests. Colonies are moderately large with well-organized soldier defense. Workers forage along covered galleries on tree bark.

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Did You Know?

Multiple carton nests of this species in a single tree can be interconnected by covered highways running along branches, forming a super-colony network.

Lacteus Termite

An Australian mound-building termite that constructs distinctive dark, hard-walled mounds up to 2 meters tall. The mounds are a common sight in pastures and open woodland across eastern Australia. Workers are pale and soft-bodied with gut protozoa for cellulose digestion.

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Did You Know?

Their mounds are so durable that they persist for decades after the colony dies and are sometimes used as road-building material in rural Australia.