Commonly found in tropical Northern Territory - generally north of
the tropic of Capricorn.
Nest location -
Mastotermes darwiniensis build their nest (secretively)
totally below the soil surface; or in the trunks and root crowns of
trees and stumps. Once a nest is mature (over 100,000 or much higher)
they can " split off " to form other nests over a wide ranging area.
These sub nests are formed constantly and can sustain life for along
period of time without contact to the original nest.
Highly destructive nature -
Mastotermes darwiniensis is one
of the world's most destructive termite species, often causing severe
damage to houses, buildings, bridges, posts, poles, and many other
plant and animal products.
Mastotermes
darwiniensis is also an agricultural pest, responsible for ringbarking
and killing living trees, shrubs, fruit, vegetable crops, sugarcane
and rubber trees.
Mastotermes darwiniensis is reported to attack rubber tyres on
tractors and cause damage to leather, hide, plastic or lead-sheathed
cables, bitumen, bagged salt, flour, glass and various metals.
Mastotermes darwiniensis is
the most ancient of all the termites in the world - they occur only
in Australia - a termite to be feared.
