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The Wild Pest
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Termites

Cellulose-eating engineers older than ants. Builders of the planet's tallest non-human structures by body length.

8 on file

On File
A Macrotermes termite mound on the African savanna, with characteristic chimney and fluted walls.
Curious
Six Legs81
Alias
Macrotermes bellicosus

African Mound-Building Termite

Builds 9-meter air-conditioned towers. Farms fungus inside. Queen lays 30,000 eggs a day for 50 years.

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On File
A compass termite mound (Amitermes meridionalis) in northern Australia, wedge-shaped with the long axis oriented north-south.
Curious
Six Legs82
Alias
Amitermes meridionalis

Compass Termite

Builds termite mounds aligned to true magnetic north. Uses Earth's magnetic field.

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On File
A conehead termite soldier (Nasutitermes corniger), small dark termite with sharp conical head and specialized nose-like nasus projection, six legs, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs88
Alias
Nasutitermes corniger

Conehead Termite

Soldier with CONE-SHAPED HEAD that sprays STICKY DEFENSIVE GLUE. Invaded south Florida in 2001.

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On File
A West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis) soldier, small pale cream-colored termite with dark phragmotic head capsule used to plug tunnel entrances, six legs, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs81
Alias
Cryptotermes brevis

West Indian Drywood Termite

Most damaging drywood termite worldwide. Reason for the dramatic WHOLE-HOUSE FUMIGATION TENT.

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On File
A Pacific dampwood termite (Zootermopsis angusticollis) soldier, large brown termite with massive elongated mandibles, six legs, top view.
Outlaw
Six Legs81
Alias
Zootermopsis angusticollis

Pacific Dampwood Termite

LARGEST termite in North America. Pacific Northwest. Ancient lineage with pseudergate worker biology.

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On File
A Nasutitermes corniger soldier termite, pale cream body with dramatically elongated dark pointed snout in place of mandibles, six legs, side profile.
Curious
Six Legs84
Alias
Nasutitermes corniger

Snouted Termite (Nasute Termite)

Termite soldier with a snout that SPRAYS sticky resin. Mandibles abandoned entirely. 1 cm range.

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On File
An eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) worker, small pale cream body with prominent mandibles and short antennae.
Apex Outlaw
Six Legs79
Alias
Reticulitermes flavipes

Eastern Subterranean Termite

$5 BILLION in US damage per year. Built from cockroaches. Mud tubes from soil to your studs.

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On File
A Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) soldier, pale cream body with disproportionately large orange-brown head and curved mandibles.
Apex Outlaw
Six Legs81
Alias
Coptotermes formosanus

Formosan Subterranean Termite

Super-termite. 10 million workers per colony. Carton nests the size of an oven.

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