Coptotermes lacteus, the milk termite, is a species of termite in the familyRhinotermitidae, native to Australia. These termites are social insects and build a communal nest in the form of a mound. From this, a network of galleries extends through the nearby soil, enabling the workers to forage in the surrounding area without emerging on the surface of the ground.
Several species of termites are found in Australia and they are difficult to distinguish from one another. C. lacteus is most likely to be confused with C. acinaciformis or C. frenchi. The soldiers of C. frenchi and C. lacteus have pear-shaped heads, while the heads of C. acinaciformis soldiers are more rectangular. C. lacteus soldiers at 4 to 4.8 mm (0.16 to 0.19 in) long are slightly smaller in size than the other two species.[1]
Distribution and habitatedit
The mound nests of C. lacteus are smaller than those of the magnetic termite Amitermes meridionalis. The outer layer is thick and hard and inside this is a hard mass of cemented soil particles and a central soft, papery nursery area where the queen and developing nymphs live.[2]
Referencesedit
^Walker, K. (2009-10-02). "Coptotermes termite (Coptotermes frenchi)". PaDIL. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
^Haddlington, Phillip W. (1996). Australian Termites and Other Common Timber Pests. UNSW Press. p. 19. ISBN9780868403991.
Further readingedit
Rogers LKR; French JRJ; Elgar MA (1999). "Suppression of plant growth on the mounds of the termite Coptotermes lacteus Froggatt (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)". Insectes Sociaux. 46 (4): 366–371. doi:10.1007/s000400050158. S2CID 8372991.
April 12, 2024
coptotermes, lacteus, milk, termite, species, termite, family, rhinotermitidae, native, australia, these, termites, social, insects, build, communal, nest, form, mound, from, this, network, galleries, extends, through, nearby, soil, enabling, workers, forage, . Coptotermes lacteus the milk termite is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae native to Australia These termites are social insects and build a communal nest in the form of a mound From this a network of galleries extends through the nearby soil enabling the workers to forage in the surrounding area without emerging on the surface of the ground Coptotermes lacteusScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder BlattodeaInfraorder IsopteraFamily RhinotermitidaeGenus CoptotermesSpecies C lacteusBinomial nameCoptotermes lacteus Froggatt Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 References 4 Further readingDescription editSeveral species of termites are found in Australia and they are difficult to distinguish from one another C lacteus is most likely to be confused with C acinaciformis or C frenchi The soldiers of C frenchi and C lacteus have pear shaped heads while the heads of C acinaciformis soldiers are more rectangular C lacteus soldiers at 4 to 4 8 mm 0 16 to 0 19 in long are slightly smaller in size than the other two species 1 Distribution and habitat editThe mound nests of C lacteus are smaller than those of the magnetic termite Amitermes meridionalis The outer layer is thick and hard and inside this is a hard mass of cemented soil particles and a central soft papery nursery area where the queen and developing nymphs live 2 References edit Walker K 2009 10 02 Coptotermes termite Coptotermes frenchi PaDIL Retrieved 2014 03 01 Haddlington Phillip W 1996 Australian Termites and Other Common Timber Pests UNSW Press p 19 ISBN 9780868403991 Further reading editRogers LKR French JRJ Elgar MA 1999 Suppression of plant growth on the mounds of the termite Coptotermes lacteus Froggatt Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Insectes Sociaux 46 4 366 371 doi 10 1007 s000400050158 S2CID 8372991 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coptotermes lacteus amp oldid 1059494885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
