Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: Eating my Art!, 1 by ineedacupoftea

ineedacupoftea wrote:
I was having a pleasurably violent whack at my present wood sculpture (chisel/mallet style) when my banging brought this wee beast out from its den. It literally came out of the woodwork behind my chisel tip, so I did not see the orafice form which it came.

I have seen termites (that I assume to be Reticulitermes flavipes) and what their groups look like when removing old firewood piles or woodmulch. Smaller and paler than this thing.

Frankly, do you reckon this is a termite? If so, what species and what role in the colony? I need to know for the sake of art.

K. James

For size: