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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Cockroaches and Termites (Blattodea) » Blattoidea » Epifamily Termitoidae - Termites » Subterranean Termites (Rhinotermitidae) » Reticulitermes » Western Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes hesperus)
Photo#181833
Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus
Copyright © 2008 Kevin Hall

Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus
Lacey (near Olympia), Thurston County, Washington, USA
May 4, 2008
Can we get any more specific than "termites"? Family? Of the families in the guide, these guys most resemble Rhinotermitidae...

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Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus Termites - Reticulitermes hesperus
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Contributed by Kevin Hall on 10 May, 2008 - 11:51pm
Last updated 26 June, 2008 - 3:48pm

Yes.
I agree these are subterranean termites, most likely the "western subterranean termite," Reticulitermes hesperus. Nice images!
… Eric R. Eaton, 11 May, 2008 - 3:32pm login or register to post comments

 
castes/ages??
Thx, Eric. Any chance you or one of the other BugGuiders could give me a lesson in colonial insect castes? It looks like the pics I have here show workers, soldiers, and a young termite (do they have a special name?).
… Kevin Hall, 11 May, 2008 - 3:48pm login or register to post comments

 
Castes.
Sometimes it depends on the species:-) I'll try to remember to make notes for the exceptions (like Zootermopsis). What you show here are workers, a soldier, and a nymph. Theoretically, the nymphs can develop into any caste, but that one looks destined to be a worker.
… Eric R. Eaton, 20 May, 2008 - 7:08pm login or register to post comments

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