About Zootermopsis nevadensis

Zootermopsis nevadensis, the Nevada dampwood termite, is part of the Termopsidae family, and is native to the northwest regions of North America.

Nevada dampwood termites live in colonies with as many as 4,000 members, separated into morphologically distinct castes according to their role in colony; for example, workers are pale brown with large abdomens, swarmers are darker and have wings, and soldiers have large, dark heads and jaws (as shown in the image used on this site). Zootermopsis nevadensis is a model species for social behaviour, which contrasts (in some ways) with that of distantly-related social ant and bee species [1].

As might be guessed from the name, dampwood termites feed mostly on wood that is near water or in close contact with soil, but can attack all wood types. They are less of a pest than subterranean or drywood termites, but all termites are sufficiently closely-related that the Z. nevadensis genome is expected to help find targets for pesticides.

Picture copyright: Alex Wild (alexanderwild.com)

Taxonomy ID 136037

Data source Zootermopsis nevadensis Genome Project

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