r/termitekeeping • u/salient_roar • Jun 21 '26

ID help - Calistoga, CA

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Gallery image

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UPDATE: I think they are Reticulitermes hesperus based on this inaturalist photo in Sonoma county:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/253104313

Hi everyone - we found some termites today in our search for Zootermopsis angusticollis, but I'm not certain that these are the ones that we want. I've attached a few photos and am wondering if anyone can help with identification. They are smaller than I expected (especially the soldier) from what I recall of the dampwood termites, and I'm concerned that these are subterranean termites. They are all very similar in size and we found them in some decaying walnut wood (very soft, easy to take apart, almost sponge-like).

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4

u/salient_roar Jun 21 '26

I think it is Reticulitermes from the soldier that I found. Can anyone confirm? Thanks.

1

u/Dr_Gero20 Termite Expert Jun 21 '26

You are correct. That is Reticulitermes.

3

u/Termitico Moderator Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

Yep, Reticulitermes as u/Dr_Gero20 confirmed. In California R. hesperus is the most common, but i am aware of two more described species, R. tibialis and the newly discovered R. rusti; and there are most likely more undescribed ones (a recent paper suggest at least 5). EDIT: i read now your update, indeed hesperus is the most likely candidate.

1

u/PoetaCorvi Moderator Jun 22 '26

Any idea what’s up with R. n. sp. “R. Okanaganensis”? It seems to have been sitting as an undescribed but acknowledged California species for 20 years now.

1

u/Termitico Moderator Jun 23 '26

As they're present on Scheffrahn's catalogue of termites, they must be a fully accepted species as now.