Dampwood-termite
Guides
Neotermes castaneus
Florida dampwood termite, southern damp-wood termite
Neotermes castaneus is a dampwood termite species in the family Kalotermitidae, commonly known as the Florida dampwood termite or southern damp-wood termite. It is distributed across the Caribbean Sea, Central America, North America, and South America. As a member of the Kalotermitidae family, it is a drywood-type termite that does not require contact with soil moisture, distinguishing it from subterranean termites.
Zootermopsis
dampwood termites
Zootermopsis is a genus of dampwood termites in the family Archotermopsidae, containing four extant and one extinct species native to western North America. These termites inhabit decaying wood in temperate rain forests, where they digest cellulose with the aid of symbiotic gut protists and bacteria. The genus exhibits complex social organization with distinct castes including reproductives, soldiers, and pseudergates. Species identification relies on subsidiary tooth morphology in non-soldier castes, a more reliable method than soldier-based characteristics.
Zootermopsis angusticollis
Pacific Dampwood Termite
Zootermopsis angusticollis is a dampwood termite species native to the Pacific coast of North America. It is among the largest termites in North America and is notable for its strict dependence on moist, decaying wood. The species is eusocial, living in colonies with distinct castes including workers, soldiers, nymphs, and reproductives. It has been extensively studied as a model organism for hindgut symbiont ecology and represents one of the best-studied lower termites in terms of gut microbial communities.
Zootermopsis laticeps
Arizona dampwood termite, wide-headed rottenwood termite, southwestern rottenwood termite
Zootermopsis laticeps is a dampwood termite native to arid regions of southwestern North America. It inhabits rotting wood in standing trees near water sources, particularly in riparian areas. Colonies are founded by winged reproductives after nuptial flights and persist as long as dead wood resources remain available. The species is difficult to distinguish from congeners without specialized techniques such as near-infrared spectroscopy or cuticular hydrocarbon analysis.
Zootermopsis nevadensis
Nevada Dampwood Termite, Nevada Termite
Zootermopsis nevadensis is a eusocial dampwood termite in the family Archotermopsidae, native to the western United States. It is a hemimetabolous species with complex caste differentiation including workers, soldiers, alates, and neotenic reproductives. The species has been extensively studied for its genomic characteristics, including exceptionally high DNA methylation levels and reduced opsin genes associated with its subterranean lifestyle. Two subspecies are recognized: Z. n. nevadensis and Z. n. nuttingi, with the latter having its genome sequenced.
Zootermopsis nevadensis nuttingi
Zootermopsis nevadensis nuttingi is a subspecies of dampwood termite in the family Archotermopsidae, described by Haverty & Thorne in 1989. It inhabits coastal forests of the western United States where it contributes to wood decomposition through specialized hindgut symbionts. The subspecies is distinguished from other Z. nevadensis populations by morphological and geographic characteristics. Like other dampwood termites, it requires moist wood substrates and lacks the specialized adaptations for arid environments seen in drywood termites.