White-spotted Ichneumon vs Exploding Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | White-spotted Ichneumon | Exploding Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Compsocryptus texensis | Neocapritermes taracua |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Ichneumonidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 10-18 mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Caves |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern United States, Mexico | French Guiana, northern South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
White-spotted Ichneumon
A medium black ichneumon wasp with conspicuous white spots on the thorax and legs. It parasitizes spider egg sacs and caterpillars.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few ichneumon wasps adapted to the hot, dry conditions of the American Southwest.
Exploding Termite
A soil-feeding termite from French Guiana known for workers that carry backpack-like pouches of toxic crystals. When attacked, older workers rupture these pouches to release a sticky, toxic substance. This is the first documented case of worker autothysis in termites.
Did You Know?
Older workers develop blue crystal backpacks on their abdomens that become more toxic with age, essentially turning elderly workers into walking chemical weapons.