TERMITE COLONIES
Termites are social insects and every termite colony is built up of specialised groups (or Castes) that play their own important part of the termite colony. In native environment termite populations are generally small but in built up area a termite colony can include up to 1 Million termites!
Termite Castes
The termite colony is divided into specialised termite groups called Castes, each termite caste is physically different and performs a particular function. Primary Reproductives are the King and Queen. The Queen can lay up to 2,000 - 3,000 eggs per day. The King and Queen termites may live for 15 years.
Alates
On a warm, humid evening, large numbers of winged male and female termites, the "alates" or "primary reproductives", are released by the termite colony. A small number of termites survive the flight, drop their two pairs of distinctive, equal sized wings, pair off, mate and, if they can, find a suitable locations and start a new termite colony.
Queen
As the other termites castes take over the running of the colony the young termite queen of most species becomes "physogastric". Her abdomen distends to many times its original size and she becomes and egg laying machine, laying up to 1000 eggs a day. The queen termite is confined to her royal chamber, tended and fed by the workers and regularly fertilised by the termite king.
Nursery
The termite eggs are removed from the termite royal chamber and transferred to a nursery by the termite workers. Here the broo (the eggs and nymphs) develops into the other termite castes that the termite colony requires for development and survival; workers, soldiers and primary or secondary reproductives.
Soldiers and Workers
Termite Soldiers and workers are blind and sterile termites. The termite workers carry out the work of the termite colony and are responsible for gathering the food the termite colony needs. In most species, the heads of the termite soldiers are uniquely armoured and equipped to allow them to defend the colony against attack, notably from ants.
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