Porotermes

Family Stolotermitidae

Termopsidae is a family of dampwood termites characterized by having 4 tarsal segments, and cerci with 4-5 segments.

Genus: Porotermes

Scientific name: Porotermes adamsoni

Distribution

Occurs along the eastern coast of Australia, the Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.

Identification

Alates.

Alates measure 14.25–17.17 with wings, and 8.00–11.00 mm without wings. Their heads are darker than the rest of their body. They have long and slender antennae of 15–18 segments. Pronotum about as wide as head, and about half as long as wide. Their tibial spurs are variable. The fore tibia has 3 spurs, mid tibia may have 3 or 4, and the hind may have 2, 3, or 4 spurs.

Soldiers.

The soldiers are and are 10.0–14.0 mm in length and have mandibles that are a third of the head length. They have flat rectangular heads and pronotums that are more than half as wide as the head. They have antennae with 15–18 segments. The tibial spurs are variable. The fore tibiae have 3 spurs, mid tibiae may have 2, 3, or 4 spurs, and hind tibiae with 2 or 3 spurs.

Habitat and Behaviour

This species attacks dead or decaying and living trees, primarily eucalyptus species. It requires decayed wood to start a colony. It is commonly found in forests, and may be found attacking poles and houses more in the highlands than on the coast. It can tunnel underground from dead roots of trees to the soil, but it does not make shelter tubes or extensive subterranean tunnels.