Tiny Subterranean Termite Swarmers

From Toyon Ct, Tuolumne City. Early May, 2020.

These specimens are about 3 mm long.

Thanks to Dr. Vernard Lewis for the ID. Dr. Lewis points out that these might represent specimens of an undescribed species, as proposed by Haverty and Nelson in 1997.

We contacted Dr. Lori Nelsom, one of the authors of the 1997 paper, Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) from Northern California Indicate Undescribed Species.

She said it is possible that these tiny termites are indeed one of undescribed species. I called the customer and asked for more details.  He said the termites had come from a beam near the roof and that there were winged termites on the roof. So maybe these are drywood termites?