Identifying Termites

Termite species identification, distribution, nesting habit and susceptible timbers.

Location of different termite species:

Coptotermes acinaciformis:	All Australian States except Tasmania
Coptotermes frenchi:	QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, WA
Coptotermes michaelseni:	WA
Coptotermes lacteus:	QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA
Coptotermes raffrayi:	WA
Nasutitermes  exitiosus:	QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, WA
Nasutitermes walkeri:	QLD, NSW
Heterotermes ferox:	QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, SA
Schedorhinotermes intermedius:	QLD, NT, NSW
Mastotermes darwiniensis:	QLD, NT
Microcerotermes turneri:	QLD, NSW
Neotermes insularis:	NT, QLD, NSW, VIC

Termite Species:	Coptotermes acinaciformis Body size: 4-6 mm Worker: Soldiers ratio is 90%: 10 - 5%
Distribution	All States in Australia except Tasmania
Nesting	Living and dead tree trunks (mostly around root crown and lower trunk), stumps and subterranean (in soil or in close contact with soil). In Tropical and subtropical climate (Northern Australia) build mounds. Population range between 0.5 to over 1 million per colony.
Identification	These termites are the most destructive in Australia. Disturbed soldiers produce milky liquid from their mandibles and are aggressive. These termites may travel underground more than 100m from the parent colony in search of food. They avoid light and work under cover.
Hosts	All timbers including living and dead trees. Also known to attack and destroy the lead sheathing of subterranean electric and telephone cables.

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Termite Species:	Coptotermes frenchi Soldier length: 4mm
Distribution	Coastal area of Queensland, NSW, ACT, Victoria, SA & WA
Nesting	Living and dead tree (mainly Eucalyptus) trunks (mostly around root crown and lower trunk), stumps and subterranean
Identification	These termites are the most destructive in Australia. Disturbed soldiers produce milky liquid from a gland on their heads. These termites may travel underground about 50 - 70m from the parent colony in search of food. They avoid light and work under cover. Has sabre like mandibles with no obvious teeth Labrum not grooved Head is pear-shaped and rounded laterally Fontanelle is obvious on the anterior part of the head 5. Tarsi - 4 segments 6. Abdominal cerci - 2 segments 7. Pronotum flat, no anterior lobes
Hosts	Cause damage to Eucalyptus trees, poles, fence posts, stumps, logs and in hardwood and softwood in buildings structure.

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Termite Species:	Coptotermes michaelseni Soldier length: 3 - 5.5 mm
Distribution	Western Australia
Nesting	Mainly in logs, stumps or dry wood in living trees E calophylla.
Identification	These termites are the most destructive in Western Australia. Disturbed soldiers produce milky liquid from a gland on their heads. They avoid light and work under cover. Has sabre like mandibles with no obvious teeth Labrum not grooved Head is pear-shaped and rounded laterally Fontanelle is obvious on the anterior part of the head 5. Tarsi - 4 segments 6. Abdominal cerci - 2 segments 7. Pronotum flat, no anterior lobes

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Termite Species:	Coptotermes raffrayi Soldier length: 4 - 5 mm
Distribution	Western Australia
Nesting	Trunks of living and dead tree, from logs, stumps, and construction timer in buildings, stack of sawn timber and from nests.
Identification	The habits of this species are similar to those of C. acinaciformis Has sabre like mandibles with no obvious teeth Labrum not grooved Head is pear-shaped and rounded laterally Fontanelle is obvious on the anterior part of the head 5. Tarsi - 4 segments 6. Abdominal cerci - 2 segments 7. Pronotum flat, no anterior lobes
Hosts	There are records also, of its destroying the lead sheathing of subterranean electric cables in Perth

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Termite Species:	Nasutitermes exitiosus Soldier length: 4 mm
Distribution	Southern parts of Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic, SA & WA
Nesting	Construct usually low dome shaped mounds up to 75 cm in height
Identification	Attack mostly hardwood timbers in buildings. Timbers in ground eg, fence posts, desks etc. Soldiers have dark brown protruding mandible from which they exude milky fluid.
Hosts	Nests in building will fill available space in cavaties and under floors

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Termite Species:	Nasutitermes walkeri Soldier length: 6 mm
Distribution	Coastal parts of Southern Qld & Northern parts of NSW
Nesting	Main nest usually in trunk of tree, connected to visible nests on upper trunk or limbs.
Identification	Mostly timber in contact with ground. Seldom causes significant damage to building timbers.

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Termite Species:	Heterotermes ferox Soldier length: 4 - 5 mm
Distribution	Parts of Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic & SA
Nesting	Small subterranean colonies adjacent to stumps, logs on ground, or beside mounds of other termites.
Identification	Threatened soldiers retreat backwards
Hosts	Weahered timber and timber in contact with ground. Superficial damage to sound timbers

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Termite Species:	Schedorhinotermes intermedius Soldier length: 5 - 7 mm Major: 3-5 mm
Distribution	Coastal Qld, NT & NSW
Nesting	Root crown and lower trunk of living and dead trees (Eucalyptus). Subterranean nests in buried timber in ground or under houses
Identification	Young colonies have smaller soldiers. Once nest is well established, major soldiers appear. Distinctively loose honeycomb damage in timber.
Hosts	Most timbers in buildings. Damage can sometimes be isolated around nails or bolts.

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Termite Species:	Mastotermes darwiniensis Soldier length: 11 - 13 mm
Distribution	Parts of Qld and NT
Nesting	The largest subterranean nest inside living and dead trees
Identification	Very destructive to timbers within 70m of nest. Where food is plentiful, colony will form independent sub-colonies.
Hosts	All timbers, living and dead trees and horticultural trees.

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Termite Species:	Microcerotermes turneri Soldier length: 5 mm
Distribution	Coastal QLD and NSW
Nesting	Numerous nest types. Either under – ground, small mounds, or arboreal (Including on posts or poles).
Identification	Significant damage to timbers in buildings is rare.
Hosts	Mainly decayed timbers in contact with ground, such as poles or posts or fences.

Termite Species:	Neotermes insularis Soldier length: 12 mm
Distribution	Coastal NT, QLD, NSW & Vic
Nesting	Small colony in branches and trunks of trees, often in softer growth rings.
Identification	Serious damages to trees mainly eucalypts.
Hosts	Commonly called ‘ring-ant’ after the concentric rings of damage in trees.

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Table courtesy to John French and Dr. Berhan Ahmed.