Unique among termites are the soldiers of the Nasutitermes genus. These are not armed with mandibles but a syringe like contraption which squirt out a sticky pungent smelling liquid that immobilizes ants. This defense mechanism is so effective against ants that sub genus of Nasutitermes lived in unsealed nest and forages in long open columns unmolested by their main enemy, ants.
Nasuitermes alates.
Nasuitermes alates.
Nasuitermes alates.
This very common species found through out Malaysia may nest underground or in trees. Their nest usually consist of excretment mixed with chewed up wood.
Nasutitermes longinasus.
A small red Nasute species with a dimorphic soldier caste.
The minor and major soldier of a small red Nasute termite species.
The minor soldier, major soldier and worker of a small red Nasute termite.
A large orange red Havilanditermes with dimorphic workers.
Hirtitermes hirtiventris
Workers and soldiers of Hirtitermes hirtiventris
Soldier of Hirtitermes hirtiventris
This is a more delicate subterranean species.
Nasutitermes sp
Lacessititermes sp.
A fully black species.
The lichen that they feed on. Quite obviously the preference is for the lighter.
Soldier of Bulbitermes sp.
Major and minor workers of Bulbitermes sp.
Minor worker of Bulbitermes sp.
Longipeditermes
Major and minor soldiers of Longipeditermes longipes.
Major soldier of Longipeditermes longipes.
Worker of Longipeditermes longipes.
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Subclass: Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
Superorder: Dictyoptera
Order: Isoptera 7499
Suborder: Fontanella
Subdivision: Longiprocta
Superfamily: Termitiodae
Family - Termitidae 46569
Subfamily: Nasutitermitinae
Genera:
Aciculioiditermes - Aciculitermes - Afrosubulitermes - Agnathotermes - Ahmaditermes - Ampoulitermes - Angularitermes - Anhangatermes - Antillitermes - Araujotermes - Arcotermes - Armitermes - Atlantitermes - Australitermes - Baucaliotermes - Bulbitermes - Caetetermes - Cahuallitermes - Caribitermes - Ceylonitermellus - Ceylonitermes - Coarctotermes - Coatitermes - Coendutermes - Constrictotermes - Convexitermes - Cornitermes - Cortaritermes - Cucurbitermes - Curvitermes - Cyranotermes - Cyrilliotermes - Diversitermes - Diwaitermes - Eleanoritermes - Embiratermes - Emersonitermes - Ereymatermes - Eutermellus - Fulleritermes - Grallatotermes - Havilanditermes - Hirtitermes - Hospitalitermes - Ibitermes - Kaudernitermes - Labiotermes - Lacessititermes - Leptomyxotermes - Leucopsitermes - Longipeditermes - Macrosubulitermes - Macuxitermes - Malagasitermes - Malaysiotermes - Mimeutermes - Mironasutitermes - Mycterotermes - Nasopilotermes - Nasutitermes - Nuiginitermes - Obtusitermes - Occasitermes - Occultitermes - Oriensubulitermes - Paracornitermes - Parvitermes - Periaciculitermes - Peribulbitermes - Postsubulitermes - Proaciculitermes - Procornitermes - Rhadinotermes - Rhynchotermes - Roonwalitermes - Rotunditermes - Sinonasutitermes - Spatulitermes - Subulitermes - Syntermes - Tarditermes - Tenuirostritermes - Thailanditermes - Triangularitermes - Trinervitermes - Tumulitermes - Velocitermes - Verrucositermes - Xiaitermes
Last Updated (YMD): 2014 12 15
First Posted: 2009 09 30
© 2009 - 2014 Quah. All rights reserved.
Very interesting article, I have link the website and one of your photos for context of one picture of my authorship that can be viewed at: http://www.pentaxeros.com/forum/index.php?topic=53616
ReplyDeleteAmazing now I know the termites I saw while walking in the forest which is Hospitalitermes
ReplyDelete