Coptotermes gestroi

Coptotermes gestroi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Infraorder: Isoptera
Family: Rhinotermitidae
Genus: Coptotermes
Species:
C. gestroi
Binomial name
Coptotermes gestroi
(Wasmann, 1896)
Synonyms
List
  • Termes (Coptotermes) gestroi Wasmann, 1896
  • Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren, 1911
  • Coptotermes pacificus Light, 1932
  • Coptotermes javanicus Kemner, 1934
  • Coptotermes monosetosus menglunensis Tsai, Huang and Li, 1985
  • Coptotermes obliquus Xia and He, 1986
  • Coptotermes yaxianensis Li, 1986
  • Coptotermes cochlearus Xia and He, 1986
  • Coptotermes vastator Light, 1929

Coptotermes gestroi, commonly known as the Asian subterranean termite is a small species of termite that lives underground. Both this species and the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) are destructive pests native to Asia, but have spread to other parts of the world including the United States.[1] In Asia, this species is known as the Philippine milk termite.[2]

The termite species Coptotermes havilandi was determined by Kirton and Brown in 2003 to be identical to Coptotermes gestroi, so following the principle of priority, the older name is now used.[3]

  1. ^ Featured Creatures: Coptotermes gestroi
  2. ^ University of Hawaii: Termite Project Archived 2010-10-27 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Kirton L. G., Brown V. K. 2003. The taxonomic status of pest species of Coptotermes in Southeast Asia: resolving the paradox in the pest status of the termites, Coptotermes gestroi, C. havilandi and C. travians (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 42: 43–63.