| Reticulitermes hesperus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reproductive adult on the wing | |
| |
| Workers in the colony | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Blattodea |
| Infraorder: | Isoptera |
| Family: | Rhinotermitidae |
| Genus: | Reticulitermes |
| Species: | R. hesperus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Reticulitermes hesperus Banks in Banks & Snyder, 1920
| |
Reticulitermes hesperus, the western subterranean termite, is a species of termite in the family Rhinotermitidae. It is found in Central America and North America.[1][2][3] R. hesperus is native to the coast between British Columbia and Southern California.[4] Like other subterranean termites, they live underground, where they have elaborate eusocial societies composed of a queen, workers, and soldiers, as well as a rotating case of sexually reproductive adults and their larval and immature offspring.[5] The reproductive adults are the only ones with functional wings.[5] The reproductive adults will swarm on warm days in spring and fall, particularly after a rain event, looking for mating partners.[5] These termites prefer moist living environments and prefer to consume wood that has already been partially decayed by saprotrophic fungus.[5]
A similar species, Reticulitermes tibialis, is more common in the interior of western North America.[4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
itiswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
gbifwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
buglinkwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Western U.S. has more subterranean termite species than previously thought, study shows | College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences". cnas.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
- ^ a b c d Lewis, V. R.; Sutherland, A. M.; Haverty, M. I. (May 2014). "Subterranean and Other Termites (UC ANR Publication 7415)". University of California Statewide IPM Program.