BlattodeaAmitermes meridionalis Anamesia sp Balta bicolor Bush Cockroach Ellipsidion Nasutitermes triodiae Termite — Alate
Described in in some resources, the family Termitidae consisting of some 2,105 described species of termites, that are commonly known as the higher termites.
Although at time of writing, Atlas of Living Australia has the classification as informal Termitoidae, with five family that include Kalotermitidae, Mastotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae, Termopsidae.
Termites are usually quite pale in colour and are wingless. They are also blind. The flying termites are winged termites, also referred to as swarming termites. These are known as winged Alates, and are seen swarming at dusk in search of a mate.
As part of this reproductive cycle, Alates have darken black pigmented bodies, wings and eyes. After they swarm they usually shed their wings and the mated pair seek a suitable location to establish a new colony.
The following Alate termites did not make it, having drowned in a swimming pool.
There are some definitive differences between flying ants and flying termites. These include:
| Flying Termite (Alate) | Flying Ant |
|---|---|
| Straight antennae | Elbowed antennae |
| Thick waist | Pinched waist |
| Front and hind wings are equal length | Front wings bigger then hind wings |
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Blattodea
- Superfamily: Blattoidea
- Informal: Termitoidae
- Family: Termitidae
- Genus:
- Ahamitermes Mjöberg, 1920
- Amitermes Silvestri, 1901
- Apsenterotermes Miller, 1991
- Australitermes Emerson, 1960
- Cristatitermes Miller, 1991
- Drepanotermes Silvestri, 1909
- Ekphysotermes Gay, 1971
- Ephelotermes Miller, 1991
- Hapsidotermes Miller, 1991
- Hesperotermes Gay, 1971
- Incolitermes Gay, 1966
- Invasitermes Miller, 1984
- Lophotermes Miller, 1991
- Macrognathotermes Miller, 1991
- Macrosubulitermes Emerson, 1960
- Microcerotermes Silvestri, 1901
- Nasutitermes Dudley, 1890
- Occasitermes Holmgren, 1912
- Occultitermes Emerson, 1960
- Paracapritermes Hill, 1942
- Protocapritermes Holmgren, 1912
- Saxatilitermes Miller, 1991
- Tumulitermes Holmgren, 1912
- Xylochomitermes Miller, 1991
at time of writing, Atlas of Living Australia had 24 listed genus
Footnote & References
- Termitoidae, Termites, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Termitoidae
- Termitidae, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termitidae
BlattodeaAmitermes meridionalis Anamesia sp Balta bicolor Bush Cockroach Ellipsidion Nasutitermes triodiae Termite — Alate
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub