Termites (superfamily Termitoidea)
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DonFletcher
wrote:
14 Aug 2025
Hi Frecko, Good photos for ID purposes. The termites with the pointed dark heads are the soldiers, which are used for species identification. The long pointed heads lacking visible mandibles show that these are in the Gluegun termite genus, i.e. Nasutitermes. There are at least four local species of Nasutitermes. One of them, N. exitiosus, is dominant. It tends to have a darker head than the others. I suspect that is what you have recorded. N. exitiosus builds the great majority of mounds that we see on the tablelands. (Others are built by Coptotermes lacteus, including all mound above about 900m). Both local goanna species nest in mounds of N. exitiosus. Also it is one of the two local species which extensively damage buildings.
Nasutitermes (genus)
DonFletcher
wrote:
12 Jul 2025
Hi @Frecko these look to be all worker termites. For any hope of photo ID, soldiers are needed. Some people can ID workers, but I think you need dead ones and a microscope.
Termitoidae (informal group)
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