Reticulitermes flavipes | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Blattodea |
Infraorder: | Isoptera |
Family: | Rhinotermitidae |
Genus: | Reticulitermes |
Species: | R. flavipes
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Binomial name | |
Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar, 1837)
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Synonyms | |
Termes flavipes Kollar |
Reticulitermes flavipes, the eastern subterranean termite, is the most common termite found in North America.[1] These termites are the most economically important wood destroying insects in the United States and are classified as pests.[1] They feed on cellulose material such as the structural wood in buildings, wooden fixtures, paper, books, and cotton. A mature colony can range from 20,000 workers to as high as 5 million workers and the primary queen of the colony lays 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year to add to this total.[1]