Cryptotermes cynocephalus

The Indo-Malaysian drywood termite, (Cryptotermes cynocephalus), is a species of dry wood termite of the genus Cryptotermes.[1] It is found in Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii, and introduced to Sri Lanka.[2] It is the smallest termite species in Australia, with 2.5 – 3.7mm in soldiers.

Indo-Malaysian drywood termite
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Blattodea
Infraorder:
Isoptera
Family:
Kalotermitidae
Genus:
Cryptotermes
Species:
C. cynocephalus
Binomial name
Cryptotermes cynocephalus
Light, 1921
Synonyms
  • Cryptotermes buitenzorgi Kemner, 1934

Description
  • Imago - General body color is pale brown. Abdomen is darker than head and pronotum. Jointed appendages are creamy white.
  • Soldier - On soldier's head, there is a strongly V-shaped frontal flange. Head is complete black with orange posterior. Head strongly concave in middle. Mandibles short and stout. Teeth are weak. Eyes very small and rudiment-like.[3]

Impact

The feeding preference of this species of drywood termites was found to be from most to least preferred: Falcataria moluccana, Acacia mangium, Gmelina arborea, Swietenia macrophylla, and Eucalyptus deglupta in a series of no-choice and choice feeding trials in the Philippines.[4] These wood species are used widely for light construction, in plywood and veneer based products where termite infestations can cause severe damage.

Control

Oleic Acid isolated from Cerbera manghas are known to have effective controlling activities against termites.[5]

References
  1. "Cryptotermes – Drywood termites". Termite Web. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  2. "An annotated checklist of termites (Isoptera) from Sri Lanka". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  3. "Termites f:rom Thailand" (PDF). BulL Gov. For. Exp. Sta. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  4. Romano, A.D.; Acda, M.N. (2017). "Feeding preference of the drywood termite Cryptotermes cynocephalus (Kalotermitidae) against industrial tree plantation species in the Philippines". Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology. 20 (4): 1161–1164. doi:10.1016/j.aspen.2017.08.026.
  5. Tarmadi, Didi; Himmi, S. Khoirul; Yusuf, Sulaeman (2014). "The Efficacy of the Oleic Acid Isolated from Cerbera Manghas L. Seed Against a Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes Gestroi Wasmann and a Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes Cynocephalus Light". Procedia Environmental Sciences. 20: 772–777. doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2014.03.093.
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