Southern Pine Beetle vs Long-nosed Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Southern Pine Beetle Long-nosed Termite
Scientific Name Dendroctonus frontalis Nasutitermes longinasus
Order Coleoptera Blattodea
Family Curculionidae Termitidae
Size 2-4 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Detritivores
Regions Southeastern United States from Texas to Virginia Central America, northern South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Southern Pine Beetle

A tiny dark brown bark beetle that is the most destructive insect pest of southern pine forests. Infestations can kill thousands of trees in a single outbreak.

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Did You Know?

Its S-shaped larval galleries beneath the bark are so distinctive they can be used to identify the species.

Long-nosed Termite

A nasute termite from Central and South American rainforests that builds carton nests on trees. Soldiers have an exceptionally elongated nasute snout for projecting defensive chemicals. Workers collect decomposing plant material from the forest floor.

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Did You Know?

The elongated nozzle of the soldier allows it to spray defensive secretions with remarkable accuracy over distances of several centimeters.