Hospitalitermes

Hospitalitermes are lichen eating termites which of course also take in other plant materials. Because of their diet supported by a chemical defense system they are what entomologist would call free ranging from their above ground foraging for food. The morphological separation of Hospitalitermes from Lacesssititemes, another lichen harvesting genus that are also free ranging, are still not quite distinct. This mostly black or dark brown colored termites forages openly and are generally avoided by ants, the primary predators of termites. Their foraging columns may stretched for over a hundred meters from their nest and are mostly left undisturbed by ants.

This page list three species which I will in a future posting separate because there is a strong possibility that one at least is actually Laccessititermes. 

Hospitalitermes bicolor.

The soldier of a bi-color Hospitalitermes species.

The soldier and worker.

Hospitalitermes mass on the ground gather food. This picture shows only a small section of this termite openly foraging in an area of approximately 15 by 15 feet. 

The nest of Hospitalitermes on a tree trunk. The core of this tree has most probably been hollowed out by other termites. Most species of termites do not normally attack healthy trees but if a tree is somehow damaged or disease giving them access to its core (the middle or center of a tree which do not have living tissue) then most species will feed on it. Usually this attack is initiated by the larger termites species or those of the Formosan family.

 

Hospitalitermes sp1.

A species of Hospitalitermes - a worker.

The nasute armed soldier.

The mandibleless soldier. In termites weaponry chemical weapons though not directly lethal are far superior to mechanical ones.

Hospitalitermes sp4.

Lichen the Hospitalistermes primary food.

Here is a darker colored  worker of the same species shows her preference for white lichen.

The soldier.

Hospitalitermes climbing a forest tree for the lichen found closer to top of the canopy.

The massive columns of Hospitilitermes stretching over a hundred meters from their nest all the way up a tall tree.

Hospitalitermes foraging on the floor of the tropical rainforest (note: I have to mute the audio because some one I was with could not shut up for a minute while I was recording the video).

Hospitalitermes sp3.

Another Hospitalitermes species in their nest. This species is slightly larger than the first species with a lighter body color. Hospitalitermes nest are always opened with workers and soldiers going in and out as well as in the nest perimeter.

Green Lichen.

White lichen.

See Also:

Hospitalitermes bicolor

Hospitalitermes sp(04)
Lacessititermes sp

Taxonomy:
No rank: Opisthokonta
Kingdom: Metazoa
No rank: Eumetazoa
No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria
No rank (Branch): Protostomia
No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa
No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata
No rank: Pancrustacea
Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia
Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota
Infraclass: Neoptera
No rank (Superorder): Dictyoptera
Order: Blattodea
Superfamily: Blattoidea
No rank: Termitiodea
Family:  Nasutitermitidae
Subfamily: Nasutitermitinae
Genus: Hospitalitermes

Last Updated: 2012 07 12
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