This page list the species of termites and ants that I haven't yet sorted out (owing among other things, to my biting off more than I can chew). New photos/pictures will be added as and when I have them.
Newest and latest addition of collected specimens are on the top of this page with older specimens of the same genus move up to make it easier for comparison. I have also added a highlight '[New]' for the latest posted images to each of the posted pages to identify the newer photos and pictures on updated pages.
There are quite a few people (includes organizations both commercial and non commercial) who have robbed my sites, taking photos for their personal, commercial or education sites and some even went to the extend of claiming those photos as their own. If you want to take photos from here whether to use in your own site or other publications, it would be good if you first write for permission. The main reason for this is so that humankind are not encouraged to rob or steal through taking and using what does not belong to them. There are many sites that published information and images of all sorts that does not required permission with some just requiring the appropriate attribution to source and/or owner publisher. Even as I have nothing but praises for these, in my personal capacity I have chosen not to do the same for the simple reason that humankind today more ever before are presumptuously taking too many things for granted. This is one of the most serious contributor to evil in the human social order. It is not hard to write for permission, and the only reason I request it is to discourage plagiarizers and those who have no regards and recognition of others efforts and works, holding themselves as entitled, having the absolute right, to everything they can steal, rob and plunder through any and all means.
This site is just for general information and species identification which are based mostly from unaided visual sightings and comparisons in the photos presented here. For authoritative and definitive identification please refer to the various institution and research bodies that maintain detail and exhaustive records. References to species identity are to the published works of the researchers and the various authorities of the field. Behavior information are from this author's personal observations and encounters and likewise are not authoritative.
If you published these photos please include a copyright notice by this author and the appropriate attribution to this source. All photos and information published here are the property of this author and are fully copyrighted. This author reserved the right to initiate legal proceedings against anyone found to have taken and published these copyrighted materials without the explicitly written permission from this author.
[2020 06 28] Added some (old) video clips in some of the posts, see the Home Page post for the 📹 icon for the posts with added short video clips. The clips are somewhat shaky and some parts blurry as I own only a cheap auto focus camera (two actually, the older one has ceased to be functional and the second one, old too, has been also already malfunctioning).
A black Camponotus (minor) worker. Black (non Colobopsis) Camponotus workers are rare, also true with small size species of Camponotus (non Colobopsis).
This is the second black (non Colobopsis) Camponotus species documented here. This is of C. singularis type (which includes C. auriventris) of Camponotus where the propodeum (3rd thoracic segment is raised and looks like a hump on the back of the ant). This is a minor worker (TL around 15 mm) and about the same size as that of C. auriventris median worker, but slimmer (less bulky).
Pseudolasius sp
Pseudolasius sp(04)
Tetramorium sp(13).
Crematogaster sp. worker
[2018 May 21] This Echinopla species collected in 31st Oct 2011 C.E. has now been officially named as Echinopla tunku-abduljalilii. See more of this newly named species at the Echinopla post.
Leptogenys sp(15). See more at the Leptogenys post.
Leptogenys sp(10).
Leptogenys sp(13).
Leptogenys sp(12)
Leptogenys sp(11)
Pheidole sp(25)
Pheidole sp(26) See more in the Pheidole genus post.
Pheidole sp(20).
Pheidole sp(19) major and minor workers. See more in the Pheidole genus post.
Pheidole sp(27) major worker.
Pheidole sp(18)
Pheidole sp(13). See more Pheidole genus in the Pheidole post.
Discothyrea sp. ant worker
Discothyrea sp. workers
Worker of Polyrhachis sp(27). See more in the Polyrhachis genus post.
Worker of Polyrhachis sp(37).
Worker of Anochetus sp.
Measuring at slightly over 8 mm tip of mandibles (closed) to tip of gaster, this is the largest of this genus document in this site. The mandibles are also significantly thicker than most members of this genus. You can view more images of this species in the Trapjaw Ants post.
This species looks quite similar to Coptotermes curvignathus but is slightly larger making it the largest species (encountered so far by me) of this genus. The head of the worker is slightly yellowish as opposed to those of all the other species documented in this blog where the worker's head is white. Aside from the head the workers from being larger at around 6 mm is also atypical of this genus (from a macro perspective).
Coptotermes sp. looks very similar to Coptotermes curvignatus but appears to have a dimorphic worker caste.
Coptotermes sp. This species is smaller (TL) than C. gestroi and the head capsule is noticeably different. See more on Coptotermes.
Carebara, this is the new definition for this group of ants. Major and minor workers of this dimorphic species of aggressive ants, the workers packing a painful bite (i.e. sting) similar in intensity as Solenopsis geminata. See more of this species in the Pheidologeton (Carebara) genus page.
Another species from the Capritermes complex. In this species the soldiers have longer heads (i.e. length to width ratio) and measure around 9 millimeters.
Pseudocapritermes sp03. This is another species under the Capritermes complex. The head of the soldier in this species is slightly shorter than the typical and just slightly longer than the mandibles.
Polyrhachis sp(35) worker. This species looks a little bit like Polyrhachis abdominalis but is smaller and also the propodeal and petiole spines are outward pointing.
Polyrhachis sp(34) worker.
Worker of Polyrhachis sp(33) ant.
Worker of Polyrhachis sp(32).
Worker of a small 7 millimeter Polyrhachis species. One among a few of this genus which do not spot spines.
The petiole in this species sp(36) is atypical of this genus.
Polyrhachis furcata ant.
Workers and brood of Polyrhachis sp. This species about the same size as Polyrhachis dives and looks similar too but is easily distinguished from P. dives by a thorny stump of a spine in the middle of the first thoracic segment (pronotum).
Polyrhachis cephalotes worker ant. The rather round and thick (viewed laterally) head of this species sets it apart from the other members of this genus.
Technomyrmex sp. This species is the smallest I have come across, just about the size of Tapinoma sessile. When I first saw it I thought it was Tapinoma but here you can see the obvious 'white foot' of all the workers.
Camponotus sp(13), a major worker. This species is fairly similar in appearance as sp(12) below but are larger (2 mm larger in the majors). These are both the Camponotus arrogans group of Camponotus which is not as large a group as the very common Camponotus irritans group (see sp07 below). Both species (sp12 and sp13 here) have naked pupae unlike the C. irritans group that have cocoon pupae.
Camponotus sp(12) is a dimorphic average (for the Camponotus genus) size species that belongs to the Camponotus arrogans group. The heart shape head of the major workers is typical in this group.
Major worker (9 millimeters) and minor worker (6 millimeters) of Camponotus sp(12).
Camponotus sp(07). is another quadmorphic species. This species very similar to one of the most commonly found species, Camponotus irritans and is around the same size, but is easily distinguished by it's larger minor worker (bottom right) and the largest major worker having a slightly larger and bulkier head (as a ratio of its body). The workers morphology are two sizes of minor and two sizes of major worker. Or if we want to split hairs (because the social order of humankind are full of hairsplitters) then one size of minor worker, one size of major worker and two size of median workers.
This species is very similar to one of the most commonly found species of Camponutus, Camponotus irritans, and is around the same size, but is easily distinguished by it's larger minor (or median) workers (bottom right).
Minor worker of Camponotus ant. This is a dimorphic species with minor workers having very narrow heads that tapers down towards the neck region.
Major worker of Camponotus sp(24).
Another Camponotus species with four morphological expression in the worker's caste. This is the median worker second from the largest.
Lateral view of median worker of another Camponotus species. Not typical of Camponotus major workers the head is not enlarged.
Secostruma sp. worker. This specimen which without close examination I had tagged as Dilobocondyla (from the appearance of the petiole nodes) but on closer examination found that it is closer to Secostruma, with minor differences in the antennae and also the gaster. Actually it looks more like a cross between Secostruma, Dilobocondyla and Pristomyrmex. Pristomyrmex has a more rounded head whereas Secostruma has a more squarish head (and also relatively larger head in proportion to the body). The waist of Pristomyrmex is also relatively shorter with the petiole nodes more pronounced. See more of this specimen in the Undocumented Species page.
Worker of Emeryopone sp. ant.
Minor and major workers Pheidole sp(33). See more in the Pheidole genus post. One of the largest genus of ants, I have encountered more than fifty species of this genus here though I didn't collect all of them due to some situational constraints. One of the biggest loopholes in Darwinian Evolution (which has since been somewhat plugged) was that of the survival of fittest. One would think that venom being such an advantageous weapon to have, once a species (or family of species) developed it they will want to retain it in all the downstream evolutionary form. Pheidole, one the the most species diverse of the Myrmicinae ants, have not only given up venom but also rely mostly (in some species almost exclusively) on its minor workers (puny in comparison to the majors) to keep the colony fed and thriving.
Pheidole (sp37) minor and major workers.
Pheidole sp(35). In this species the function of the major workers as semi repletes is equal to those in some Oligomyrmex species which has semi repletes major workers. In the major workers the frontal portion (the area above the frontal lobes which is absent in Pheidole ants) is more elevated presenting a raised plateau in the frontal region which may serve to block the entrance holes to the nest or as an obstacle in the tunnels. The majors are around 5 millimeters (TL) with the minor workers just below 3 millimeters.
Minor and major workers of Pheidole sp(32).
Minor and major workers of Pheidole ants (sp30).
Minor and major workers of Pheidole sp. This species with a somewhat honey color also has majors at around 5 millimeters and minor around 3 millimeters. See more in the Pheidole genus post.
Soldiers and workers of Nasutitermes sp.
Soldiers and workers of Nasutitermes sp10.
Both workers and soldiers of this species are monomorphic.
A small Nasutitermes (probably Subulitermes) termite species. To date this is smallest of this genus recorded in this blog.
I initially tagged as Nasutitermes sp14, this is actually (after a closer look realized) Lacessitermes. This species looks very similar to Hospitalitermes with the main difference in length of the legs and antennae. See more in the Nasutitermes page.
This species has dimorphic workers and monomorphic soldiers.
Worker of a very small Strumigenys species. Most Strumigenys species are trapjaws ants having the similar snap shut jaws mechanism of trapjaws ants like Anochetus and Odontomachus, but not these two newly collected species. While generally Strumigenys are slow moving ants these non trapjaws expression of this genus are generally even slower moving.
A very small Strumigenys species measuring just under 2 millmimeters.
Another Strumigenys species of normal size (2 millimeter and larger).
Workers of Strumigenys ants.
[2020 06 28] Added some (old) video clips in some of the posts, see the Home Page post for the 📹 icon for the posts with added short video clips. The clips are somewhat shaky and some parts blurry as I own only a cheap auto focus camera (two actually, the older one has ceased to be functional and the second one, old too, has been also already malfunctioning).
[New] A drywood termite, Cryptotermes secundus
Coptotermes havilandi
Hypotermes sp03 is the largest species of this genus which I came across. Hypotermes are almost identical to Odontotermes except for the missing tooth on the left mandible.
Soldiers of an unclassified Rhinotermitinae which is probably Coptotermes gestroi. The workers and soldiers are still nanitic not reaching their final full sizes yet as the colony is still just two months old.
See more unclassified Rhinotermitinae in Coptotermes sp page
Unclassified Rhinotermitinae sp(3)
the king and queen, workers and a soldier of Coptotermes gestroi.
Odontotermes sp(26) is the second largest species of this genus I have come across. The head length of the soldiers are around 4 mm and the total length is around 9 mm.
At less than 2 mm this is a Pachycondyla looking species which might be Pachycondyla but no longer so due to the reclassification of many of the species previously under this genus to nine new genera (which I have
not looked into yet, hopefully one fine day, haven't have one in years).
not looked into yet, hopefully one fine day, haven't have one in years).
Tetramorium sp(14) is a dark brown species.
Leptogenys sp(12)
Worker of Anochetus sp.
Measuring at slightly over 8 mm tip of mandibles (closed) to tip of gaster, this is the largest of this genus document in this site. The mandibles are also significantly thicker than most members of this genus. You can view more images of this species in the Trapjaw Ants post.
Worker of Polyrhachis sp(32).
Tgis species (sp28) also about the same size (both major and minor workers) as the previous two species recorded below.
Major and minor workers of Pheidole sp. This species is approximately the same size as that in the photo directly below. The most noticeable difference is the head shape of the majors.
Another average size Pheidole species of this very large genus. The major and minor workers mostly look quite similar in appearances except in smaller species (minor workers of 2 mm or less) they are somewhat more dissimilar in head shapes.
Minor workers and a major worker of Pheidole sp. where the major workers are not only as long as the super major of Solenopsis geminata, their heads are also as large. In this species and uncommon among Pheidole genus, the propodeal spines (or thorns) at the third thoracic segment (propodeum) is also very prominent.
Minor workers and a major worker of Pheidole sp.
Minor and major workers of Pheidole sp. This is a small species of Pheidole ants where the major workers also function as repletes or rather semi-repletes.
Pheidole sp. workers and brood.
Vollenhovia sp(04). This species is monomorphic. See more on Vollenvohia in the Vollenhovia post.
Vollenhovia sp(03). is another polymorphic species.
Platythyrea sp(04). See more Platythrea ants in the Platythyrea post.
Platythyrea sp(03).
Solenopsis sp3. This worker ant at just slightly over 1 millimeters is probably (because I couldn't make out other details) of the Solenopsis genus with two segments antennae clubs and no spines. This would be the smallest species of this genus I have encountered. See more of this specimen in the Undocumented Species page.
A worker of Cerapachys sp(04). See more of the Cerapachys species in the Cerapachys post.
A worker of Cerapachys sp(03).
Cerapachys biroi is a monomorphic small ant.
Schedorhinotermes sp. This species is slightly larger than the species directly below but the minor soldier is slimmer (thinner).
Schedorhinotermes sp. Major soldiers is around 4,5 millimeters (TL).
Soldiers and workers of Schedorhinotermes sp. This large species has major soldiers measuring around 9 millimeters (TL).
Schedorhinotermes termites. Major soldiers of this species measured at 7 millimeters and is larger than the first species posted here. The head capsule of the soldiers also tapers (narrows) from posterior to anterior (back to front). See more photos of this species in the Schedorhinotermes page.
Tetramorium sp(11) at around 3 millimeter is on the lower end in terms of total length (TL) as far as this genus is concerned but it is still over 20% longer than the species below (sp10).
This is one the smaller Tetramorium species as most species of this genus are around 3 to 5 millimters. A 2.2 millimeter long worker of Tetramorium sp.
Technomyrmex sp3.
Technomyrmex sp2.
At just over one millimeter this is a typical small species of monomorphic Carebara ants.
Workers of Pristomyrmex sp02.
Pristomyrmex sp04. Spines are completely absent in this species.
Worker of Pachycondyla sp(32) measuring around 7.5 millimeter is slim and sleek. The mandibles are long similar to Pachycondyla amblyops. This species looks very similar to Pachycondyla sp4 in the Pachycondyla post. A big surprise is that Pachycondula here is quite a large genus, I have to date encountered over 30 species possibly more as some are so similar it is hard to make them out as different species. I only publish those that I can clearly see a difference. Roughly this genus can be divided into the fast running and the slow running species, then the slim and sleek against the more bulky species. Most species are subterranean (at least during the day) and tunneled through the forest soil hunting their preys.
Queen of Pachycondyla sp(32)
Gyne of Pachycondyla sp(31). This species like the one above (sp32) is slim with long mandibles. This qyne lost a leg probably to Macrotermes termites. Termites hunting ant's workers commonly have missing or shortened limbs and antennae due to their encounters with snapping termites soldiers of the Macrotermitinae subfamily.
Alates and workers of Pachycondyla sp(21) with workers around 5 millimeters and gyne at over 7 millimeters.
A gyne (around 3.5 millimeters) of a small Pachycondyla ant.
A gyne of a small (>3 millimeters) Pachycondyla species.
Ectomomyrmex sp18. The queen measured at around 17 millimeters and is the largest species of Ectomomyrmex I have come across. See more in the Undocumented Species page.
Queen of Pseudoneoponera sp13. This large species Pseudoneoponera sp13 resembles Pseudoneoponera tridentata. The worker and gyne both measured around 12 millimeters, are smaller than those of Pseudoneoponera tridentata.
Worker of Pseudoneoponera sp13.
Pachycondyla sp14 is another large Pseudoneoponera species with workers measuring over 17 millimeters. This is another Pseudoneoponera tridentata look alike and of around the same size only this species is slimmer (especially when viewed from the top).
This large Ectomomyrmex species measured at around 15 millimeter. This looks like a larger version of Ectomomyrmex astuta.
Ectomomyrmex sp12 worker. This species measure at around 15 millimeters.
Leptogenys sp8. This species looks a little like Leptogenys diminuta but is slightly larger, slimmer and the exoskeleton is less smooth (glossy).
Worker ant of Tetraponera sp.
Female alate of Tetraponera sp.
Queen of Tetraponera sp.
Worker of Tetraponera sp.
Queen of Tetraponera sp.
A minor worker of Gesomyrmex sp. Gesomyrmex are arboreal ants making their nest inside the branches and twigs of trees.
A minor worker of Gesomyrmex sp.
Worker and soldier of a large Procapritermes species. The soldiers of this species measured at over 9 millimeters making it as large (in TL) but not as bulky as the major soldiers of the common Macrotermes gilvus.
In the center is a new secondary reproductive of Subulitermes sp. This image shows the male. The female has a larger abdomen.
For upcoming new pages check the site listing page,
Updated (YMD): 2022 06 26
First Posted: 2010 01 26
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