Coptotermes sp

Rhinotermitinae or Rhinotermitidae (the closest match is actually to Coptotermes) is a common but rarely seen termites in human habitat areas except during the swarming seasons. From the number of alates which are plentiful one would come across during the swarming seasons it seem strange that I seldom come across the colonies in urban and suburban areas. But instead Coptotermes gestroi is found everywhere but I seldom come across their alates.

Generally the genus is very tolerant of high humidity which normally would drown most other termite genera. I provisionally categorized them under dampwood termites because of this.

Unclassified Rhinotermitinae sp(3) soldiers and workers. I have classified them under Rhinotemitnae as I can't officially confirmed them as Prorhinotermes except for their tolerance of relatively high humidity which usually 'drown' other direct wood (as opposed to fungi growing and humus) consuming species. Also they have the an opening of the frontal gland similar to Coptotermes. They look more alike to Coptotermes just not exactly (the head capsule is relatively longer than those of C. gestroi and C. curvinagthus). The head capsule is more the shape of Prorhinotermes.

Sp2

Rhinotermitinae sp(2) soldiers head capsule has a slight whitish coloration especially the posterior. The head capsule is also more bulb shaped than those of Coptotermes curvignatus.

Sp3

The soldiers of this species (the head) is almost identical to those of Coptotermes formosanus. The reproductives however more closely resemble those of Coptotermes gestroi.

See also:
Prorhinotermes flavius (This is the only true damp wood termites I come across from this location. And it is also the only one that exhibit atypical behaviors for termites in a few significant areas.)

Taxonomy

cellular organisms

Superkingdom: Eukaryota

Opisthokonta

Kingdom: Metazoa

Eumetazoa

Bilateria

Protostomia

Ecdysozoa

Panarthropoda

Phylum: Arthropoda

Mandibulata

Pancrustacea

Subphylum: Hexapoda

Class: Insecta

Unrank: Dicondylia

Subclass: Pterygota

Infraclass: Neoptera

Cohort: Polyneoptera

Unrank: Dictyoptera

Order: Blattodea

Superfamily: Blattoidea

Isoptera: 7499

Unrank: Termitoidae 1912919

Family: Rhinotermitidae 36985

Subfamily: Coptotermitinae72653

Genus: Coptotermes 36986

Last Updated: 2022 01 19
First Posted: 2018 08 08
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