Reticulitermes speratus

Reticulitermes speratus, the Japanese termite, is a species of subterranean termite found in Japan, North Korea, and South Korea. It eats decayed wood. It is adapted to withstand the cold temperatures of the temperate regions it inhabits. The mitochondrial genome of the subspecies Reticulitermes speratus kyushuensis has been determined. The queen is succeeded by asexual reproduction, in which an aged queen lays eggs with no openings for sperm to enter through, effectively making a clone of herself. All individuals have part of their eyes developed, but the size increases if the individual is on a reproductive tract. Individuals have been shown to cannibalize injured nestmates.