Australian subterranean termite facts for kids

Coptotermes frenchi, also known as the Australian subterranean termite, is a type of termite. It belongs to the Rhinotermitidae family. Termites are like super-organized social insects. C. frenchi usually builds its home, called a nest, inside the bottom part of a tree trunk, near the roots. From this nest, they dig tunnels through the soil. These tunnels let the worker termites search for food without ever coming out into the open.

Discover the Termite Colony

Termites are social insects, meaning they live in large, organized groups. Each termite has a special job, like a team with different roles. This is called a caste system. In a C. frenchi colony, you'll find three main types:

• Reproductives: These are the king and queen. They have eyes, a tough brown outer shell, and sometimes wings. Their main job is to stay in the nest and make more termites by producing and fertilizing eggs.
• Workers: These termites are blind and have soft, pale bodies. They don't have wings. Workers are busy! They build the nest, dig tunnels underground, and create covered pathways made of mud. They also go out to find food, take care of the young termites, and feed the king, queen, and soldiers.
• Soldiers: Like the workers, soldiers are blind, soft-bodied, and wingless. Their job is to protect the colony. They use their strong jaws to fight off any invaders.

The nest of C. frenchi is usually found inside the base of a living tree. It's built from mud and chewed-up wood pulp. The outside of the nest is a bit fragile, but the inside is a softer maze of passages and rooms where the termites live.

Meet the C. frenchi Termite

There are many different kinds of termites in Australia, and it can be tricky to tell them apart. C. frenchi looks a lot like two other common species: C. acinaciformis and C. lacteus.

Here's how to spot the difference:

• Head Shape: If you look at the soldiers from above, C. frenchi and C. lacteus have pear-shaped heads. But C. acinaciformis soldiers have heads that are more rectangular.
• Size: C. frenchi soldiers are about 4 to 5 millimeters long. This makes them a medium size compared to the other two species.
• Special Features: These soldiers have big, curved jaws that look like swords. They also have a special pore on their forehead. This pore can squirt out a milky, sticky fluid, which helps them defend the nest.

Where C. frenchi Lives

C. frenchi is originally from Australia. You can find it along the coast of Queensland, and in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia.

These termites usually build their nests in the root area of eucalyptus trees. Sometimes, they nest inside the tree trunks a few meters off the ground. In drier parts of Australia, their nests might even look like mounds on the ground. It's often hard to see what these termites are doing because they mostly stay hidden.

They dig tunnels that spread out from their nest. These underground passages and covered pathways can stretch for up to 50 meters from the tree! C. frenchi is generally more shy and less aggressive than C. acinaciformis. While they mostly live in forests and attack living trees, they can also damage wooden parts of buildings, power poles, and fence posts. They hollow out the inside, leaving only a thin layer of wood that looks perfectly fine from the outside.

The World of Termite Ecology

Many other insects and small creatures live inside termite nests. Sometimes, the termites don't mind them because these guests might produce useful liquids or help out in some way. However, some of these visitors are predators that eat termite eggs and young.

Ants are a big threat to termites. If the termite tunnels or nest get damaged, ants can get inside. Sometimes, tiny parasitic mites can be found on the termites' soft bodies. If too many mites grow, they can even wipe out an entire termite colony.

Termites are also a tasty meal for mammals like the numbat and echidna. These animals will break into a colony to find them. When the winged king and queen termites leave the nest to start new colonies, birds, lizards, and spiders often catch and eat them.