Zootermopsis angusticollis

Zootermopsis angusticollis is a species of termite (Isoptera) in the family Termopsidae, a group known as the dampwood termites. As their name suggests, the dampwood termites can only survive by living off of wood that contains high amounts of moisture. Unlike the more common drywood termites, the dampwood termites are very tolerant of wet conditions and build their colonies in damp wood such as rotting stumps and logs. They have even been found in areas of tidal flooding. They are common in wet coastal areas like the Pacific coast of North America. Most are found in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Montana and in southern British Columbia. Termites are well known to be destroyers of wood, and although the dampwood termites can cause some damage, they are not as notoriously known to cause as much damage to buildings as the drywood termites. They tend to stick to dense forest areas with heavy amounts of decaying wood. A dampwood colony can easily be found by peeling the bark away from rotten stumps. The dampwood termites are also known for possessing intestinal flagellate protozoa, of the genus Trichonympha, with which they have a symbiotic relationship.