Black-Winged Subterranean Termite

Black-Winged Subterranean Termite

Odontotermes formosanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Nanjing

In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%

18 Verified sightings at Nanjing
May Best month

About the Black-Winged Subterranean Termite

Odontotermes formosanus is a species of fungus-growing termite in the family Termitidae. It is native to southeastern Asia and was first described from Taiwan (then called Formosa). This termite cultivates a symbiotic fungus in a special chamber in the nest. Workers and soldiers gather vegetable detritus which they bring back to the colony, chewing the material to a pulp to make a suitable substrate on which to grow the fungus.

Odontotermes formosanus has a widespread distribution in southeastern Asia, its range including Japan, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and India. It is a common subterranean species and is a pest of forests, plantations and crops. It also forms nests in earthen dams, and can cause dams and dykes to collapse, as well as doing damage to the pipework.

It should not be confused with the worldwide invasive species Coptotermes formosanus. A colony of Odontotermes formosanus consists of a number of large and small chambers forming the nest, linked by a complex of galleries; the queen is housed in one large chamber, and the main fungus comb occupies another, and there are several subsidiary fungus comb chambers... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Kaohsiung 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%
2 Nanjing 🇨🇳 China
~10%
3 Tainan 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%
4 Taichung 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%
5 Taipei 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~10%
6 Zhuhai [Macau] 🇨🇳 China
~10%
7 Guangzhou 🇨🇳 China
<5%
8 Hong Kong 🇨🇳 China
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black-Winged Subterranean Termite in Nanjing?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Winged Subterranean Termite sighting in Nanjing on a given day, based on 18 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 76th most-seen of the 272 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black-Winged Subterranean Termite in Nanjing?

March–October and December

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-Winged Subterranean Termite in Nanjing on a given day, against under 5% in January–February and November, the lowest months.

Is Nanjing the best place to see a Black-Winged Subterranean Termite?

Among the best

Of the 8 cities where we can rate Black-Winged Subterranean Termite sightings, Nanjing ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Kaohsiung (Taiwan, about 10%).

Where does the Black-Winged Subterranean Termite sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black-Winged Subterranean Termite is recorded against all the insects logged in Nanjing (18 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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