Species Calcaritermes nearcticus

Kalotermes (Calcaritermes) nearcticus Snyder, 1933

Calcaritermes nearcticus Snyder, 1925

Length of alates with wings: 7mm(1)

As with most Calcaritermes species, workers, presoldiers and some nymphs and soldiers can be differentiated from a small "rasp" near the end of the pronotum.(2)

Soldiers may be differentiated from sympatric Cryptotermes species due to the smooth texture of the head and the possession of U shaped depression on the dorsal-anterior portion of the head. In Cryptotermes, the front of the head is concave, with many wrinkles and lacks the defined U-shaped depression.(3)

Alates can be differentiated from the median vein on the forewing; it is scletorized and lacks cross veins connecting it to the costal veins, additionally the membrane is covered in small bumps.(1) If wings are not available, C. nearcticus tends to be much darker in colouration (black/dark-brown v. brown to light brown)

One species in the United States being restricted to central and northeastern Florida to southeastern Georgia. Likely a relic species.(2)

Likely infests branches in the canopy.

Alates fly during midday, March to May.(1)

Has the habit of covering galleries in wet frass that likely help facilitate microbial breakdown of wood.(2)(4)

All Calcaritermes (with the exception of C. temnocephalus) possess a raised patch of scales (metanotal rasp) on the pseudergate, soldier and nymph castes. It is speculated that this may be used to hold microbes to aid in the breakdown of the wood they infest similar to bark beetles and their relationship with fungi. It has also been noted that these Calcaritermes use their frass to line gallery walls.(2)

Cryptotermes

Kalotermes approximatus