Hodotermopsis sjostedti Care Sheet

Overview

Hodotermopsis sjostedti is a dampwood termite species that lives entirely inside decaying wood. Unlike soil-dwelling termites, they do not require soil or complex nest structures.

They are a specialized species, and successful keeping depends on providing the right wood and moisture conditions.

Temperature

• Ideal: 18–24°C (64–75°F)
• Maximum: 25°C (77°F)

This is a cool-adapted species.
Do not keep them warm like tropical termites.

Core Setup (Most Important Section)

The setup is simple, but must be done correctly:

Container

• Plastic box or small terrarium
• Lid with limited ventilation (to keep humidity stable)

Substrate

• Base layer: moist substrate (e.g. wood chips, decomposed wood, or similar)
• Keep it slightly damp at all times

Wood (Essential)

• Add large, thick pieces of rotten wood
• This is where the colony will live

Requirements for wood:

• Soft and partially decayed
• Moist (not dry)
• Preferably hardwood

👉 The wood is the nest + food source
👉 Without proper rotten wood, the colony will fail

Humidity

• Keep the enclosure consistently humid
• Achieved by:
  • moist substrate
  • moist wood

No water dish is needed.
Moisture comes from the environment and the wood itself.

Feeding

• No separate feeding required

They feed entirely on:

• rotting wood (cellulose)

Do not use fresh or dry wood.

Colony Behavior

• They stay inside the wood at all times
• Very little visible activity
• Do not expect foraging like ants

Colony Development

• Colonies can be started from:
  • workers (they can form reproductives), or
  • a reproductive pair

Growth is:

• relatively slow
• stable when conditions are correct

Maintenance

• Keep substrate and wood moist
• Avoid drying out
• Avoid overheating
• Disturb the colony as little as possible

Common Mistakes

• Using dry or fresh wood
• Not providing large מספיק thick wood pieces
• Letting the setup dry out
• Keeping them too warm
• Expecting ant-like activity