Termites as pests Out of the 258 described (90 undescribed)
termite species in Australia, only a few wood-damaging species
are of concern to humans. The five families that include the
most common pest species are: - Mastotermitidae (1 pest species
- Giant Termite, Mastrotermes darwinensis) - Kalotermitidae
(several pest species of 'dry-wood termites', including the
introduced Cryptotermes brevis) - Termopsidae (1 pest species -
Dampwood termite, Porotermes adamsoni) - Rhinotermitidae (7 pest
species, including Coptotermes acinaciformes) - Termitidae (5
pest species, including Nasutitermes walkeri) The Giant Termite
(Mastotermes darwinensis) has the greatest potential for
destruction. However, it is limited to the tropical areas of
northern Australia. It attacks any wood in contact with the
ground including shrubs and trees, as well as paper, leather,
clothing and other materials. It is a large-bodied primitive
species that usually forms small colonies and has no true worker
caste. The introduced West Indian D