Termite Species in Adelaide

Termites are considered to be the most destructive insect pests in the world. Many buildings and structures are damaged by these pests each year resulting in huge financial losses. There are 300 different species of termites in Australia, but it is the Coptotermes species that are “public enemy number 1” in South Australia.

Family: Rhinotermitidae (subfamily Coptotermitidae)
Genus: Coptotermes
Type: Subterranean.
Castes: Queen, king, soldier, worker, reproductive.
Nest type: Coptotermes generally do not build mounds and mostly nest in trees, stumps, poles, or filled-in verandahs where timber has been buried. Favoured trees for nesting are English oaks, various eucalypts and peppercorns. The colony is mostly found in the root crown or the lower part of the trunk.
Distribution: Coptotermes acinaciformis is present across South Australia. Economic significance: This is the most destructive termite species in Australia. It attacks all timber structures and damages forest and ornamental trees as well as fruit trees.

Soil contact is desirable for this species, but not essential, provided that it has an assured moisture supply and security in its habitat. Colonies have been found on the top of multistorey buildings where there is a constant water supply, but no ground contact. Large colonies have also been found inside wooden barges that do not have contact with the ground, moisture being supplied through the timber from the fresh or salt water.

Coptotermes lacteus and Coptotermes frenchi are also very destructive pests in their own right but cause far less damage to established properties than Coptotermes acinaciformis. Coptotermes frenchi are mainly a green forest pest and Coptotermes lacteus attacks serviceable timber that already has a level of decay.

The basic castes in a colony are queens, kings, workers, soldiers and alates.