[1][2][3] R. hesperus is native to the coast between British Columbia and Southern California.

[4] Like other subterranean termites, they live underground, where they have elaborate eusocial societies composed of a queen, workers, and soldiers, as well as a rotating case of sexually reproductive adults and their larval and immature offspring.

[5] The reproductive adults will swarm on warm days in spring and fall, particularly after a rain event, looking for mating partners.

[5] A similar species, Reticulitermes tibialis, is more common in the interior of western North America.

The lacewing lays its eggs on stumps and rotten logs and the newly hatched larvae make their way to termite galleries via crevices.