Cryptotermes domesticus explained

The domestic drywood termite, (Cryptotermes domesticus), is a species of dry wood termite of the genus Cryptotermes. It is native to Malaysia, Borneo, Australia, China and Sri Lanka. It is mainly a house termite and also found in cultivated areas. The presence of this termite can be identified by small heaps of tiny egg-like pellets of excreta.^[1] It is a larger termite species, with 3.25-5.90mm in soldiers. It is considered as a minor pest in Australia, but is a serious pest causing wood damage in other parts of the world.^[2]

Description

• Imago - General body color is pale yellowish brown. Head is paler than other parts. Wings hyaline or faintly tinged with brown. Eyes comparatively large and distinct. Antennae composed of 15-16 segments. Head and pronotum with mild hairs.
• Soldier - Head color varies from very dark brown to black. Head capsule is glabrous. Well developed genal horns present. Antennae composed of 9-15 segments.^[3]

External links

• drywood termite Cryptotermes domesticus Haviland Images
• 26410413. 2016. Wu. W.. De novo transcriptome sequencing of Cryptotermes domesticus and comparative analysis of gene expression in response to different wood species. Gene. 575. 2 Pt 3. 655–66. Huang. Z.. Li. Z.. Zhang. S.. Liu. X.. Gu. D.. 10.1016/j.gene.2015.09.055.
• Progress of Biological Studies on Primary Reproductives in Cryptotermes domesticus (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)
• 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb13114.x. Phylogenetic analysis of the symbiotic intestinal microflora of the termite Cryptotermes domesticus. FEMS Microbiology Letters. 164. 2. 389–395. 1998. Ohkuma. M.. free.
• The threshold level of boron preservative against attack by the dry-wood termite Cryptotermes domesticus - Kalotermitidae. 1975. Jayatilleke. M. P. A.. Tisseverasinghe. A. E. K..

Notes and References

1. Web site: An annotated checklist of termites (Isoptera) from Sri Lanka . National Science Foundation . 14 February 2017.
2. Web site: A review on drywood termite Cryptotermes domesticus (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) . ACTA ENTOMOLOGICA SINICA . 14 February 2017.
3. Web site: Drywood termite - Cryptotermes domesticus(Haviland)(Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) . PaDIL . 14 February 2017.