''Reticulitermes tibialis'', the arid-land subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae. It is found in the United States, mostly in the western half, occurring in deserts, prairies and other dry locations.

Description

Subterranean termites in the genus ''Reticulitermes'' are difficult to distinguish morphologically. Other similar species found in much the same geographical area are ''

Reticulitermes flavipes ''Reticulitermes flavipes'', the eastern subterranean termite, is the most common termite found in North America. These termites are the most economically important wood destroying insects in the United States and are classified as pests. They fe ...

'', ''

Reticulitermes virginicus ''Reticulitermes virginicus'' is a species of subterranean termite native to North America, found often in the southern United States.Su, Nan-Yao.Native Subterranean Termites: ''Reticulitermes flavipes'' (Kollar), ''Reticulitermes virginicus'' (B ...

'' and ''

Reticulitermes hageni ''Reticulitermes hageni'', the light southeastern subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae Rhinotermitidae is a family of termites (Isoptera). They feed on wood and can cause extensive damage to buildings or ...

''. ''Reticulitermes tibialis'' tends to live in drier habitats and can be distinguished from the other species by gene sequencing. Winged adults of this species are about in length. They have a broad prothorax and are black, with black legs.

Distribution and habitat

''Reticulitermes tibialis'' has a wider distribution in North America than other members of its genus. Its range includes most of the western and north central parts of the United States as far east as

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

. In the east, it coexists with ''R. flavipes'', ''R. virginicus'' and ''R. hageni'', and south of

Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. It is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume () and the third-largest by surface area (), after Lake Superior and Lake Huron. To the east, its basin is conjoined with that o ...

, its range overlaps with that of ''

Reticulitermes arenicola ''Reticulitermes'' is a termite genus in the family Rhinotermitidae. They are found in most temperate regions on Earth including much of Asia and the Middle East, Western Europe, and all of North America. Caste descriptions ''Reticulitermes'' ...

''. It mostly occurs in deserts and arid locations such as prairies with hard-packed or alkaline soil, canyons, river valleys and among sand dunes. It occurs at altitudes of up to and more in the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...

. As well as wooden structures, it attacks logs and fallen timber, and in deserts feeds on creosote and

greasewood Greasewood is a common name shared by several plants: * ''Adenostoma fasciculatum'' is a plant with white flowers that is native to Oregon, Nevada, California, and northern Baja California. This shrub is one of the most widespread plants of the ...

bushes.

Life cycle

Winged reproductives (alates) appear above ground in the fall, winter or spring, depending on location. After a short flight they shed their wings, and a female will search for a crevice or other suitable underground nesting site and be joined there by a male. Having mated and excavated a chamber, the female starts laying eggs. The first batch of eggs hatch into larvae which develop into workers; these enlarge the nest, search for food and carry it back to the nest. As the number of termites in the colony expands, some workers further develop into soldiers; in well-established colonies, there may be hundreds of thousands of individual insects. Alates are not produced until the colony has been established for several years. In large colonies, it is possible for workers to develop into non-winged reproductives which lay eggs to supplement the queen's effort, or which can replace her should she die. Because they tend to inhabit arid areas with low human populations, this species does relatively little damage to man-made structures as compared to other ''Reticulitermes'' species.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13582613 Termites Insects described in 1920