Zootermopsis laticeps

Zootermopsis laticeps
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Infraorder: Isoptera
Family: Archotermopsidae
Genus: Zootermopsis
Species:
Z. laticeps
Binomial name
Zootermopsis laticeps
(Banks, 1906)

Zootermopsis laticeps, known generally as Arizona dampwood termite, is a species of termite in the family Archotermopsidae. Other common names include the wide-headed rottenwood termite and southwestern rottenwood termite. It is found in arid parts of south-western North America.

Species of Zootermopsis are difficult to tell apart; one means of doing so is by analysis of the cuticle hydrocarbons, but that method has its limitations, and it transpires that near-infrared spectroscopy can separate species and subspecies with an accuracy of over 99%.