Lower-termite
Guides
Calcaritermes nearcticus
Calcaritermes nearcticus is a species of drywood termite in the family Kalotermitidae. It is native to North America and was first described by Snyder in 1933 as Kalotermes nearcticus before being transferred to the genus Calcaritermes. As a member of Kalotermitidae, it is a lower termite that lacks a true worker caste, with tasks performed by pseudergates. The species is rarely encountered and poorly documented in scientific literature.
Coptotermes
Coptotermes is a genus of subterranean termites in the family Rhinotermitidae, containing approximately 71 described species. The genus is thought to have originated in Southeast Asia and includes some of the world's most economically destructive termite pests, notably Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite) and C. gestroi (Asian subterranean termite). A 2013 consensus among 31 termite experts reduced the number of validated species from 69 to 21 based on morphological and molecular evidence, with many historical names suspected to be synonyms. Species in this genus exhibit complex social behaviors including age-based task division and unique nitrogen recycling strategies.
termitepestinvasivestructural-pestsubterraneanRhinotermitidaeHeterotermitidaeeconomic-pesturban-entomologycolonysocial-insectmoltingnitrogen-recyclingexuviaeage-polyethismFormosan-subterranean-termiteAsian-subterranean-termiteSoutheast-Asia-originwood-feedingcellulosegut-protozoalower-termiteevolutionary-transitiontunnelingforagingtrophallaxisproctodeal-trophallaxiscarton-nestAhamitermesparasitechitin-synthesis-inhibitorCSI-baitmolting-site-fidelityinvasive-speciesurban-peststructural-damagequarantineshippingrailroad-tiesmulchHawaiiFloridaLouisianaTaiwanJapanChinaPhilippinesAustraliatemperature-limitationhumidity-requirementcolony-sizeseveral-millionalatesswarmingnematode-associationvertical-transfermorphological-plasticitymolecular-identificationmitochondrial-DNACOII12S-rRNA16S-rRNAconsortium-taxonomytaxonomic-cold-casesynonymyWasmann-1896Incisitermes snyderi
Southeastern Drywood Termite
A drywood termite species in the family Kalotermitidae, found in the southeastern United States. Colonies are small to moderate in size and live entirely within wood without soil contact. The species is a significant pest of structural timber and wooden objects in its range.
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 nevadensis
damp-wood termite, Nevada dampwood termite
Zootermopsis nevadensis nevadensis is a lower termite subspecies inhabiting cooler coastal and higher elevation areas of the western United States. It lives entirely within damp wood and does not forage outside its gallery system. The species exhibits hemimetabolous development with multiple progressive juvenile instars that function as workers. These workers retain developmental plasticity, capable of differentiating into alates (winged reproductives), neotenic reproductives, or soldiers depending on colony needs. The subspecies possesses exceptionally high levels of DNA methylation compared to other insects, with methylation patterns more similar to non-insect invertebrates than to holometabolous insects.