''Coptotermes lacteus'', the milk termite, is a species of

termite Termites are small insects that live in colonies and have distinct castes (eusocial) and feed on wood or other dead plant matter. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattode ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Rhinotermitidae Rhinotermitidae is a family of termites (Isoptera). They feed on wood and can cause extensive damage to buildings or other wooden structures. About 345 species are recognized, among these are severe pests such as '' Coptotermes formosanus'', ''Co ...

, native to Australia. These termites are

social insects Eusociality (from Greek εὖ ''eu'' "good" and social), the highest level of organization of sociality, is defined by the following characteristics: cooperative brood care (including care of offspring from other individuals), overlapping genera ...

and build a communal nest in the form of a mound. From this, a network of galleries extends through the nearby soil, enabling the workers to forage in the surrounding area without emerging on the surface of the ground.

Description

Several species of termites are found in Australia and they are difficult to distinguish from one another. ''C. lacteus'' is most likely to be confused with '' C. acinaciformis'' or '' C. frenchi''. The soldiers of ''C. frenchi'' and ''C. lacteus'' have pear-shaped heads, while the heads of ''C. acinaciformis'' soldiers are more rectangular. ''C. lacteus'' soldiers at long are slightly smaller in size than the other two species.

Distribution and habitat

The mound nests of ''C. lacteus'' are smaller than those of the magnetic termite ''

Amitermes meridionalis ''Amitermes meridionalis'', commonly known as the magnetic termite or compass termite, is a species of eusocial insect in the family Termitidae. It is endemic to northern Australia and the common names derive from the fact that the wedge-shaped ...

''. The outer layer is thick and hard and inside this is a hard mass of cemented soil particles and a central soft, papery nursery area where the queen and developing

nymphs A nymph ( grc, νύμφη, nýmphē, el, script=Latn, nímfi, label=Modern Greek; , ) in ancient Greek folklore is a minor female nature deity. Different from Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature, are typ ...

live.

Description

Distribution and habitat

References

Further reading