TERMITE BACKGROUND & ECOLOGY
Termites play a prominent part in the recycling of plant nutrients through the disintegration and decomposition of dead wood and plant debris, some even are utilized to help in the traditional process of creating didgeridoos.
Termites are a group of insects that appear to be closely related to cockroaches. This conclusion is based on behavioral and ecological similarities between termites and wood roaches (members of the family Cryptocercidae). These cockroaches live in fallen timber on the forest floor, feeding on wood fibers which are then digested by symbiotic microorganisms within their digestive systems. They live in small family groups where each female provides care for her young offspring. Termites and wood roaches are thought to be close relatives because they both occupy similar habitats, share the same type of food resources, have the same intestinal symbionts, and provide care for their offspring.
Termites are the only hemimetabolous insects that exhibit true social behavior. They build large communal nests that house an entire colony. Each nest contains adult reproductives (one queen and one king) plus hundreds or thousands of immatures that serve as workers and soldiers. Like cockroaches and mantids, the termites are most abundant in tropical and subtropical climates.
Termites can’t go through the living bark of the tree, they have to find access to the center of a tree or sapling. They either follow a woodborer hole or make a tunnel all the way up the outside of a tree to find a broken branch exposing the hardwood. Once inside the hardwood of the still alive tree, the termites eat the tree inside out.
Termites play a prominent part in the recycling of plant nutrients through the disintegration and decomposition of dead wood and plant debris, some even are utilized to help in the traditional process of creating didgeridoos.
Termites are a group of insects that appear to be closely related to cockroaches. This conclusion is based on behavioral and ecological similarities between termites and wood roaches (members of the family Cryptocercidae). These cockroaches live in fallen timber on the forest floor, feeding on wood fibers which are then digested by symbiotic microorganisms within their digestive systems. They live in small family groups where each female provides care for her young offspring. Termites and wood roaches are thought to be close relatives because they both occupy similar habitats, share the same type of food resources, have the same intestinal symbionts, and provide care for their offspring.
Termites are the only hemimetabolous insects that exhibit true social behavior. They build large communal nests that house an entire colony. Each nest contains adult reproductives (one queen and one king) plus hundreds or thousands of immatures that serve as workers and soldiers. Like cockroaches and mantids, the termites are most abundant in tropical and subtropical climates.
Termites can’t go through the living bark of the tree, they have to find access to the center of a tree or sapling. They either follow a woodborer hole or make a tunnel all the way up the outside of a tree to find a broken branch exposing the hardwood. Once inside the hardwood of the still alive tree, the termites eat the tree inside out.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
Immatures (Workers & Soldiers)
Adults (Reproductives)
Immatures (Workers & Soldiers)
- Body pale in color, somewhat ant-like in appearance but with a broader junction between thorax and abdomen
- Compound eyes small or absent
- Head large and cylindrical or small and round
- Antennae beaded
- Mouthparts chewing; sometimes with large mandible
Adults (Reproductives)
- Body may be darkly pigmented
- Head well-developed, with chewing mouthparts and beaded antennae
- Compound eyes present
- Two pairs of membranous wings, all similar in shape and size; wings are shed after mating
LIFE CYCLE
The life cycle of the termite begins with a mating flight, wherein swarming winged reproductive males and females leave established colonies and procreate. After fertilization, winged termites land and shed their wings, going on to form new colonies. These insects then become the king or queen termites of their newly established colonies. The queen and king termites are at the center of the termite life cycle and are responsible for reproduction.
After the fertilized queen lays her eggs, they hatch into pale white larvae. Over the course of several molts, these larvae grow to assume a role in one of the three termite colony castes: workers, soldiers and reproductive termites, also known as alates.
Each caste has a distinctly different physical appearance. Workers are responsible for constructing tunnels and chambers as well as feeding and grooming other termite castes. Soldier termites are yellow-brown in color, with dramatically enlarged heads and often large mandibles. These are useful in combat but render warriors incapable of feeding themselves. The reproductive alates are darker in color and are born with two pairs of wings.
Although it is not clear how larvae are relegated to a certain caste, some research has indicated that maturity and the overall needs of the colony may dictate caste assignment. In fact, research has indicated that castes in the termite life cycle are not rigidly set, as termites belonging to one caste may develop into another caste if the colony requires it. Thus, a soldier termite may become a worker or a reproductive termite if the colony experiences a shortage of one or the other.
Workers and soldiers live approximately one to two years. Queen termites may survive for over a decade under optimal climate conditions.
The life cycle of the termite begins with a mating flight, wherein swarming winged reproductive males and females leave established colonies and procreate. After fertilization, winged termites land and shed their wings, going on to form new colonies. These insects then become the king or queen termites of their newly established colonies. The queen and king termites are at the center of the termite life cycle and are responsible for reproduction.
After the fertilized queen lays her eggs, they hatch into pale white larvae. Over the course of several molts, these larvae grow to assume a role in one of the three termite colony castes: workers, soldiers and reproductive termites, also known as alates.
Each caste has a distinctly different physical appearance. Workers are responsible for constructing tunnels and chambers as well as feeding and grooming other termite castes. Soldier termites are yellow-brown in color, with dramatically enlarged heads and often large mandibles. These are useful in combat but render warriors incapable of feeding themselves. The reproductive alates are darker in color and are born with two pairs of wings.
Although it is not clear how larvae are relegated to a certain caste, some research has indicated that maturity and the overall needs of the colony may dictate caste assignment. In fact, research has indicated that castes in the termite life cycle are not rigidly set, as termites belonging to one caste may develop into another caste if the colony requires it. Thus, a soldier termite may become a worker or a reproductive termite if the colony experiences a shortage of one or the other.
Workers and soldiers live approximately one to two years. Queen termites may survive for over a decade under optimal climate conditions.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Termites are an important part of the community of decomposers. They are abundant in tropical and subtropical environments where they help break down and recycle up to one third of the annual production of dead wood. Termites become economic pests when their appetite for wood and wood products extends to human homes, building materials, forests, and other commercial products. In the United States alone, annual losses due to termite infestations are estimated at more than 800 million dollars.
Termites are an important part of the community of decomposers. They are abundant in tropical and subtropical environments where they help break down and recycle up to one third of the annual production of dead wood. Termites become economic pests when their appetite for wood and wood products extends to human homes, building materials, forests, and other commercial products. In the United States alone, annual losses due to termite infestations are estimated at more than 800 million dollars.