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INSECT FACTS |
Identification
Cryptotermes primus colonies have up to 200 individuals and usually less than 10 soldiers. The Soldier termites are pale cream with short thick dark heads. The head is steeply sloping - almost vertical. Alates are pale yellow-brown. There are many species of Native Drywood Termites in Australia, and identification of species is a specialist task. Most Australian species do not form large colonies, but have nests of a few thousand or less individuals.
Size
Soldier length: 4mm - 6mm
Habitat
forest trees
Food
cellulose from wood
Breeding
Nests in small colonies in branch stubs, or fire scars, dead stumps.
Range
found from northern. Queensland to southern New South Wales
Notes
Can damage timber in buildings including house stumps, floors, skirting boards, beams, furniture, fence posts. It is not as destructive as the introduced West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis).
Classification
| Class: | Insecta | | Order: | Isoptera | | Family: | Kalotermitidae | | Genus: | Cryptotermes | | Species: | primus | | Common Name: | Native Drywood Termite |
Relatives in same Genus
West Indian drywood termite (C. brevis)
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