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Nasute termites
-2.56292, 140.504
Field Notes
Description:
Nasute termites (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) emerging from a broken "shelter tube". In this spotting the shelter tube reaches right to the top of this tall tree (see last photo). These termites are seeking out dead branches. They do not attack the live tissue. All the Nasute species can be recognized by their soldiers having a pointed snout at the front of their heads, called a nasus. See http://www.termiteweb.com/the-nasutitermitinae-termites/
Habitat:
Observed on a large flamboyant tree (Delonix regia) in a large semi-urban yard and garden, near a disturbed patch of remnant equatorial lowland forest. This is in the equatorial tropics of northern New Guinea.
Notes:
Yes, I created the breach to see the termites, which immediately set about to repair it, and they succeeded in short order.
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