Good morning all!
As the title suggests I am searching for termites to purchase to give my termite-hut design another trial.Unfortunately, termites are very rare to non-existent in Maine. In my multiple years of scrounging through rotting wood to search for ants, I have never come across any. I previously purchased some eastern subterranean termites from a member on dendroboard.com but this colony collapsed. I would like to give some dampwood termites (Zootermopsis sp.) a try but any termites would do. Outside of Carolina Biological/Ward's Science which charge exorbitant amounts for shipping I have failed to find another source. Any info will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
Wards doesn't ship Zootermopsis that can become reproductives, however, I think they sell R. flavipes, or some species of Reticulitermes that can become reproductives, because almost all members of Reticulitermes colonies can become reproductives. I know there are some ant stores that also sell termites, but I assume the same rules would apply for importing termites as for importing ants.
Unfortunately , wards is your best bet. It does look like termites are infact native to Maine, though, so if you don't want to spend the money, you'd have to spend the time searching for them. I wrote more about where I found the species you'll find, as in the specific habitat, but you're more likely to find them if you're in southern Maine. Hope that sorta helps.