Learn the colony before naming a species

Termite species and biology

Termites are social insects with specialised colony roles; reliable species identification may require more than a photograph of damaged timber.

Colony roles

Workers, soldiers and reproductives perform different functions and may not all be visible at a finding.

Winged reproductives leave established colonies; their presence does not by itself map a building infestation.

Termites digest cellulose-based material; concrete itself is not their food.

No repository evidence supports publishing a definitive local species list; specimen-based identification is preferable.