Family Kalotermitidae
This family has both drywood and dampwood species. The soldiers have 4 tarsal segments, and 2 segmented cerci. They do not have a fontanelle (opening of the frontal gland that looks like a hole on their “forehead” used to squirt a white sticky substance as a defense mechanism). They have pronotums that are as wide as their heads.
Genus: Bifiditermes
Species in this genus are dampwood termites. The most commons species encountered is Bifiditermes improbus.
Distribution
Occurs in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and South-western Australia
Identification
Soldiers are 6.5–10.5 mm and are mandibulate. They have long heads that have straight parallel sides. The third segment of their antennae is noticeably bigger than the segments and is shaped like a club.
Habitat and Behaviour
This species form colonies in dead trees and sometimes poles in the ground. They occur in various hights in trees, and they usually enter sound wood through tree scars and branch fractures.
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