54 replies to this topic

[mean gene]

Weaver ants reaction to being hit by nasute termite soldiers secretions.

 

More information can be found on the youtube page in the video description.

 

More termite videos in this thread below.

 

 

 

 

I believe this species ( Longipeditermes Longipes ) eats mainly decaying leaves and some rotting wood.

This video shows them in more detail: 

 

 

More termite videos in this thread below.

Edited by mean gene, June 1 2016 - 5:13 PM.

[dspdrew]

Those are some leggy termites.

[mean gene]

Yeah they are! And those legs are what the genus name is based on, Longipeditermes.

Edited by mean gene, August 13 2015 - 6:06 AM.

[TheAnswerIsTheLogic]

That termites are insane.

[William. T]

That's one of the first termite species I see actively defending themselves from ants and seem to be driving them off.

[Jonathan21700]

Wow! Thanks for sharing!

Edited by Jonathan21700, August 13 2015 - 8:57 AM.

[LC3]

Those nasutes, Now that's one animal that evolved correctly haha

[Vendayn]

I'm not sure if its the nasute termites (which are really cool, you only find those in the tropics). But, there are termite species that grow fungus like Leafcutter ants do. I'd have to read up on how they grow the fungus again, but I thought it was with plants too. Could just use wood in some way, but I don't think so as that doesn't sound like it makes sense since they grow fungus.

 

There are also termites (I think its actually the nasute termites) found in the US Virgin Islands that build huge mounds that hang from trees...kind of like a wasp nest but bigger.

 

Its funny how a lot of termite species are very similar to ant species in a lot of ways, even though they aren't related. They pretty much evolved the same way really.

Edited by Vendayn, August 13 2015 - 6:01 PM.

[LC3]

Convergent Evolution? 

also

Quite a few of Termites grow fungus like those in the genus Macrotermes,Microtermes and Odontotermes.

[mean gene]

I'm not sure if its the nasute termites (which are really cool, you only find those in the tropics). But, there are termite species that grow fungus like Leafcutter ants do. I'd have to read up on how they grow the fungus again, but I thought it was with plants too. Could just use wood in some way, but I don't think so as that doesn't sound like it makes sense since they grow fungus.

 

There are also termites (I think its actually the nasute termites) found in the US Virgin Islands that build huge mounds that hang from trees...kind of like a wasp nest but bigger.

 

Its funny how a lot of termite species are very similar to ant species in a lot of ways, even though they aren't related. They pretty much evolved the same way really.

 

Yeah it is amazing how that is, ants and termites are a great example of convergent evolution. 

 

 

There are a couple nasute termite species in the southern United States that I'm aware of; Tenuirostritermes Tenuirostris in Arizona, and Tenuirostritermes Cinereus in Texas. These species forage at night above ground in the open for dried grass and leaf litter. They have male nasute soldiers and female workers: https://books.google...itermes&f=false.

 

 

                                                                                                                  Tenuirostritermes Cinereus

 

 

 

                                                                    Tenuirostritermes Tenuirostris

    

 

( These next two pictures taken in September? "Survey September 18, 2014, After drenching overnight rain, the morning was hot and partly sunny as five volunteers completed this week's survey. While subterranean termites are notorious for the damage they do to wooden structures, members of a different family (termitidae, known as the "higher" termites) are important foragers of dead grass and other plant debris. Both examples shown below belong to this latter group.") Location: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, located in Austin, TX, in the Gardens and surrounding trails.

 

Tenuirostritermes sp. King or Queen seconds after dropping its wings. 

http://www.austinbug...y9-18-2014.html

 

 

The wings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also found in San Antonio TX (This picture: Up Mountain Trail San Antonio, TX 78255 ) 

http://bugguide.net/...w/353053/bgpage

 

 

 

Tenuirostritermes sp. alates from Honduras

Edited by mean gene, August 5 2016 - 9:14 AM.

[Vendayn]

Man, I would sure love to find those! I thought they were more tropical genus of termite (that is what I imagined anyway), but guess they are sort of "next door" as well. I don't think we have those in California. I've never seen them anyway, just the normal subterranean termites people usually find around here. Plus the Drywood termites, and Dampwood termites.

[William. T]

We have something like that in Maryland. Huge golden termites in the largest of the longest. Mandibles the size of a Pogonomyrmex worker. They loo really cool. I got a few in my cultures right now. If the nymphs turn into reproductives, I will post some pictures.

[mean gene]

Man, I would sure love to find those! I thought they were more tropical genus of termite (that is what I imagined anyway), but guess they are sort of "next door" as well. I don't think we have those in California. I've never seen them anyway, just the normal subterranean termites people usually find around here. Plus the Drywood termites, and Dampwood termites.

 

Yeah me too! You're right about nasute termites being a tropical/sub tropical genus, but surprisingly a few are found in the arid/desert climates.

 

Here are some more intersting tropical species:

 

Rhynchotermes Perarmatus

 

Hospitalitermes sp.

 

Macrotermes Carbonarius ( http://www.termitewe...es-carbonarius/ )

 

 

 

Syntermes sp.

 

Planicapritermes sp.

 

Rhinotermes Marginalis (note markedly different mandibulate majors and nasutoid minor soldiers) https://home.czu.cz/...botnik/termiti/

You can read a little bit about the nasutoid minors here:

http://static-conten...0984012/000.png

http://static-conten...0984012/001.png

 

Nasutoid up close

 

 

Trinervitermes trinervoides  -snouted harvester termite with male soldiers female workers: https://books.google...itermes&f=false

More pictures:  http://www.ispotnature.org/node/617723  

 

Rhynchotermes sp. -nasutissimus?  https://home.czu.cz/...botnik/termiti/

 

Hospitalitermes sp.  https://www.flickr.c...-130316346@N07/

 

Constrictotermes sp. http://www.pbase.com...image/143915679

 

Inside the nasute soldiers head.

 

 

 

 

Edited by mean gene, August 4 2016 - 9:58 AM.

[LC3]

Yay More termites. Macrotermes carbonarius are one of my favourite they have highly specialized defences and they're more Offensive > Defensive.. Might be the only jawed termite that does something useful. Also those Rhinotermes marginalis are interesting.. wonder how they evolved like that.

[William. T]

Something else to add to an ant game. No wonder Matabele ants are so fierce, especially when you consider these to the small yellow lumps we have in the eastern US.

[mean gene]

Yay More termites. Macrotermes carbonarius are one of my favourite they have highly specialized defences and they're more Offensive > Defensive.. Might be the only jawed termite that does something useful. Also those Rhinotermes marginalis are interesting.. wonder how they evolved like that.

 

I find them to be very interesting too, It's amazing how the soldiers evolved to be further specialized like that.

[William. T]

These termites, unlike our American ones, don't build mud tubes and cower inside mud tubes, but instead, save time and materials by sending guards with their workers.

[mean gene]

Pachycondyla marginata raids Neocapritermes opacus 

[LC3]

0:22

Boom head shot!

[mean gene]

Hospitalitermes sp.

Edited by mean gene, October 21 2015 - 12:08 PM.