Are Termites Good For Anything?
WouterTermites are small, soft-bodied insects, which live in large colonies. They are social creatures, and all of the termites in a colony work together. They eat wood and plant material, and they also help replenish nutrients in the soil.
Termites can be found all over the world, and they can cause quite a bit of damage. Their main source of food is wood, and they can attack many things in a home, including subflooring and swimming pool liners. Unlike other insects, they do not carry harmful diseases.
When they see danger, they will attack. They will chew through wallpaper, flooring, and other materials. They can also destroy swimming pool filtration systems.
The biggest natural predators of termites are ants. They eat them, but they will rarely bite people. They are not able to feed themselves, so they depend on other workers in the colony to provide them with food.
During the swarming season, termites fly from the colony in search of mates. The winged Alates are the only termite caste that can fly.
When they find a suitable nest, they will start building life together. This is a process that typically takes a few hours.
Once they have a nest, they will begin to lay eggs. These eggs usually last for 25-30 days. The queen of the colony can live up to ten years.
When the egg stage is complete, the young termites will start eating. The worker termites will tend to the larvae.
