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: Ceratokalotermes
Species in this genus are dampwood termites.
Ceratokalotermes spoliator
Distribution
This species occurs on the east coast, from northern Queensland to southern New South Wales.
Identification
Soldiers are 5.0–7.0 mm in length and they have long thin mandibles which differentiates them from other species in the family which mostly have short mandibles. They also have a unique pronotum that curves upward anteriorly.
Habitat and Behaviour
This species is classified as a dampwood termite. It is usually found attacking the heartwood and death tissues of living trees, causing economic losses to the timber industry. It also attacks ornamental trees.
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