A New Species Of Termite Was Recently Discovered

Termites are well known for having lived on this planet for an incredibly long amount of time. Termites are one of the oldest living insect species that still exist today. Termites have had plenty of time to disperse into a multitude of different species. Nearly twenty five hundred different termite species have been discovered so far. And there are plenty more species that have not yet been described by researchers.

The amount of individual termites that are living at this very moment is astronomical. You are probably aware of the fact that termites are relatively small insects. Most of them are not even as large as common ants. Despite their minute size, the total combined weight of all termites in the world would double the combined weight of the human population.

It is understandable that many species of termites have yet to be discovered given their tiny sizes. However, discovering new termite species is more common than you may think. In fact, not so long ago an entirely new species was discovered in India. The new species is now referred to as Glyptotermes Chiraharitae.

The new species of termite was discovered in the Malabar region of India. Termites are particularly numerous and relatively troublesome in the country of India. But this new species is most likely not a pest to humans.

This new species has already been determined to be a member of one of three different types of termites. These types include, subterranean, dampwood, and drywood. The new species belongs to the dampwood group of termites. Like most dampwood termites, Glyptotermes Chiraharitae termites do not require contact with the soil like subterranean termites do. This new species dwells solely on wood. These termites are especially numerous in areas of forest land where rotting and decayed trees can be found.

Although the eating habits of this new termite species has yet to be determined, its relatives are known for feeding on mango, sal, banyan trees, Rhododendron, Artocarpus, silver oak, and jamun trees. Some experts believe that this newly discovered species is related to a notorious pest to tea bushes in Sri Lanka.

Do you think that the amount of termites that have not yet been discovered outnumber the amount that have been described by researchers?

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