Tumulitermes Mound Termite vs Twin-spotted Spiketail

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Tumulitermes Mound Termite Twin-spotted Spiketail
Scientific Name Tumulitermes pastinator Cordulegaster maculata
Order Blattodea Odonata
Family Termitidae Cordulegastridae
Size 3-5 mm 68-78 mm
Habitat Grasslands Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Northern Australia North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

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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.

Twin-spotted Spiketail

A large, dark brown spiketail with paired yellow spots on each abdominal segment. It is the most common spiketail in eastern North America.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae lie partially buried in stream-bottom leaf litter and ambush passing prey.