Worker Termite Scientific Name
Drywood termites do not have a specific worker caste and instead rely on nymphs to perform the typical worker role.
Worker termite scientific name. These termites are the most economically important wood destroying insects in the united states and are classified as pests. Subterranean termite reticulitermes spp coptotermes spp. It wasn t until modern times and the use of microscopes they were able to observe distinguishing features between the two orders. Drywood termites left and subterranean termites right isoptera.
Centromyrmex and iridomyrmex colonies sometimes nest in termite mounds and so the termites are preyed on by these ants. Major workers largest and darker insects and minor smaller ones. Usually termite colonies contain from 60 000 to 5 million workers which cover an area of 25 000 ft2 with a foraging distance of 230 feet. They feed on cellulose material such as the structural wood in buildings wooden fixtures paper books and cotton a mature colony can range from 20 000 workers.
A scout recruits 10 30 workers to an area where termites are present killing them by immobilising them with their stinger. They are under the termitoidae epifamily inside a cockroach classification called blattodea. Different termite species have 2 or 3 workers size versions. In the past termites were categorized within a different order of insect than cockroach but additional research has determined that they originated from cockroaches.
Tetramorium uelense is a specialised predator species that feeds on small termites. Phylogenetic studies have shown that the closest relative to the termite is the cockroach. Across most species of termites a worker termite looks like an insect in the larval stage worker termites have soft exteriors and tend to be white or pale brown. The origin of the name isoptera is greek and means two pairs of straight wings.
The termite has been called the white ant over the years and commonly confused with the true ant. No evidence for any kind of relationship other than a predatory one is known. Worker termites nymphs and are up to 3 8 inch long wingless white to grayish with white to yellowish brown heads and soldiers are similar but with large rectangular darker heads bearing well developed jaws. Drywood termites are light yellow to black with clear to smoky gray wings about 7 16 inch long.
The scientific name for a termite is isoptera and they are eusocial insects. Termite order isoptera any of a group of cellulose eating insects the social system of which shows remarkable parallels with those of ants and bees although it has evolved independently even though termites are not closely related to ants they are sometimes referred to as white ants. Reticulitermes flavipes the eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite found in north america.