Fortified Labyrinth
Title: Fortified Labyrinth
Year: 2018
Description: This work was obtained from inside a home and is the secondary nest of the Formosan subterranean termite. The difference between this and the primary nest is that there are no king, queen, eggs, or nymphs in the secondary nest. This nest was made using termite oral secretions that are mixed with mud, wood, and termite excreta. The structure of the secondary nest is loose and not as strong as that of the primary nest. The complex of vertical and horizontal tunnels resembles a maze and is a fortress from which these termites expand their territory.
Insect: Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, 1909
Order Blattodea
Family Rhinotermitidae
Introduction: Formosan subterranean termites are also known as Formosan milk termites because when disturbed they secrete a white defensive liquid from the frontal glands on their heads. They are common in urban areas and do the most serious damage to homes. The primary nest of these termites is usually built in soil underground. They form tunnels or mud passages through which they can feed on wood in other places, sometimes hundreds of meters away. As they build both primary and secondary nests it is very difficult to control their spread.
Photographed by: Zhang Jia-Hao; Let’s Explore Insects in the Home Team
