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Mastotermes darwiniensis

Insects

Mastotermes darwiniensis, known as the giant northern termite or Darwin termite, is a termite species found only in northern Australia and is considered the most primitive extant termite species. Contrary to common belief it does not build mounds, instead nesting in inconspicuous subterranean tunnels and galleries that colonies use to travel to new food sites, readily occupying and infesting decomposing wood, and colonies may eventually split to form isolated satellite colonies. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Diet
Omnivore 1
Relationship to People
Agricultural or Structural Pest 1
Scientific Name
Mastotermes darwiniensis 3
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated 4
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 2
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Blattodea, Taxa
Source Wikidata: Mastotermes darwiniensis
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Mastotermes darwiniensis (Wikipedia)where-it-lives statement
Quote, where-it-lives statement
Mastotermes darwiniensis, common names giant northern termite and Darwin termite, is a termite species found only in northern Australia.
Sources
1. Mastotermes darwiniensis (Wikipedia)
  • article text (relationship to people), EntityId 373804
    It becomes a major agricultural pest, to the extent that vegetable farming has been virtually abandoned in Northern Australia wherever this termite is numerous, which it is outside of the rain forest
  • Article text: "Its diet is varied, as it will eat introduced pl"
    Its diet is varied, as it will eat introduced plants, damaged ivory and leather, and wood and debris, and in fact almost anything organic.
View the Source
2. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Insecta
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 28
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Insecta","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Insectos","language":"ES"},{"name":"Insects","language":"EN"},{"name":"Insectes","language":"FR"},{"name":"昆虫纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
3. Wikipedia: Mastotermes darwiniensis
WikipediaWikidata Q135349 (P225 taxon name)View the Source
4. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Mastotermes darwiniensis
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 4802813, category field
Quote, GBIF taxon key 4802813, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
International Union for Conservation of NatureView the Source
Wikidata: Mastotermes darwiniensis
Child Taxon Of: Blattodea, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source
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