How many termite species are there in Australia?
Of around three hundred species of termite in Australia, only about twenty are of economic importance in there own regions.
There are 3 main groups of structural timber destroying termites in Australia:
Subterranean, Drywood, & Dampwood termites
Dampwood termites belong to the family Kalotermitidae. These termites live inside the wood they eat and are rarely encountered in domestic homes.
Subterranean termites (families Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae) are much more common in urban areas, usually live in the soil & randomly forage for wood to eat.
Subterranean TermitesMastotermes |
Dampwood TermitesPorotermes Adamsoni |
Drywood TermitesCryptotermes |
Below are pictures of termite soldier caste heads of the important species that attack building structures in Australia
![small-6-5eb7819e2d7fef573d7c8f84968137c5](https://www.a1pestcontrol.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/small-6-5eb7819e2d7fef573d7c8f84968137c5.jpg)
![small-7-0ceb8732dcdc6bbb2c17bc38e5f8b0bc](https://www.a1pestcontrol.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/small-7-0ceb8732dcdc6bbb2c17bc38e5f8b0bc.jpg)
![small-9-facfa67a13d37ba041ae75b33be66d18](https://www.a1pestcontrol.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/small-9-facfa67a13d37ba041ae75b33be66d18.jpg)
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If white-ants (its a misnomer, they are the same as termites) are a problem for you, please call us without delay on 0417 251 911, or send us a message for a free quote and advice about Pest Control Sydney& Metropolitan area in NSW
Differences between ants and termites
Picture of Neotermes insularis Termites
Neotermes insularis soldier caste
Soldier body length: From 10mm to 15mm
Identification
Ring-ant Termites are dampwood termites. The head is not prominently flattened and the pronotum (section of the thorax behind the head) is as wide as the head. The mandibles curve upwards slightly. Ringant termites have the largest soldiers of all the Australian termite species. They work mainly in the soft outer growth rings and do not leave much external signs of activity, unlike the Porotermes adamsoni which makes a visible mud like nest made of feces and wood particles.
Habitat
forest trees, sometimes found in garden trees
Nest
The nest has many galleries in the outer soft growth rings of trees
Range
found around coastal Australia from Darwin in Northern Territory, around coastal Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
The Ringant Termite is a serious pest of forest trees in eastern Australia where it damages the top parts of trees used for commercial timber
Castes:
There are 4 different castes of adults for Neotermes insularis termites;
- Queen & King
- Worker
- Soldier
- Reproductive