Rubber Termite (Coptotermes curvignathus):
The Giant Hidden Threat to Rubber and Palm Trees

Among Asia’s most destructive subterranean termites, the rubber termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) stands out not only for its size but also for its devastating appetite for living trees. Quietly active underground, these termites pose a serious threat to plantations and urban green spaces alike.

Anatomy & Biology: The Largest of Its Kind

• Common name: Rubber termite
• Scientific name:Coptotermes curvignathus
• Family: Rhinotermitidae
• Order: Blattodea

This species is the largest Coptotermes termite in Asia. Soldiers have yellow, oval-shaped heads with highly curved, long mandibles — more curved than in other Coptotermes species.

A unique feature is the fontanelle on the head, an opening that secretes a defensive white fluid stored in abdominal glands, making the termite’s abdomen appear distinctively white.

Life Cycle: From Hidden Eggs to Massive Colonies

Like other termites, Coptotermes curvignathus undergoes complete metamorphosis, consisting of:

• Egg stage: Initial batch of 15–30 eggs, up to 1,000 eggs at a time. Eggs are small, white, and round, hatching in 2–4 weeks.
• Larval stage: White larvae resemble small adults without developed wings.
• Adult stage: Workers live around 4 years, while queens can live 20 years or more, continuously producing eggs.

Diet & Damage: Feeding from the Inside Out

This termite feeds on living wood, decaying wood, and moist timber, making it a notorious pest of rubber trees, oil palms, and coconuts.

Damage is often hidden at first, with signs like soil sheeting or earthen shelter tubes appearing on tree trunks, especially near the base or higher up. When these coverings are scraped away, the bark beneath appears porous, revealing internal wood and live termites. In severe cases, they attack roots and inner trunk tissues, leading to serious structural weakness.

Habitat: Underground Masters

As a subterranean termite, they build nests underground and forage by constructing mud tunnels from the soil. They thrive in agricultural areas, urban green spaces, and natural forests, including dry dipterocarp forests, hill forests, peat swamps, and coastal forests.

Global Distribution

Originally widespread in Southeast Asia, Coptotermes curvignathus is commonly found from Thailand throughout Indochina, wherever humid, tropical environments support tree growth.

Social Structure: Organized for Survival

The colony operates under a strict caste system:

• Workers: Forage, feed others, care for eggs and larvae, and maintain the nest.
• Soldiers: Defend the colony with powerful jaws but rely on workers to feed them, as they cannot eat on their own.
• Reproductives: The king and queen. The queen's abdomen often enlarges greatly to maximize egg production, while the king mates with her throughout life.

Conclusion

The rubber termite (Coptotermes curvignathus) is more than just an agricultural nuisance — it’s a serious hidden threat to plantations and trees in urban areas. Without early detection and proper control, they can silently undermine even the strongest trees from the inside out.