Do Termites Live in the Desert?
WouterDesert termites are a subspecies of termites. They are commonly found in the western portions of the United States, particularly in southwest and west Texas and southern New Mexico. They are also found in the Chihuahuan desert.
They are small insects, about six to fifteen millimeters in length. They are not attracted to humans. Usually, they live in caves or under cactus. They construct mud tubes to forage for food. Occasionally, they hang from objects or ceilings. They feed on cellulose, plant materials, and lignin.
They live in colonies. Their colony may have thousands of members. There are three castes within the colony. These are the soldiers, workers, and reproductives. The soldiers have light caramel bodies and no wings. The workers have shorter heads than the soldiers. The reproductives have dark brown bodies and wings.
The females are more active than the males. They lay eggs, and are capable of forming a colony. A colony can be as large as an acre.
In late spring, the colony produces nymphs, which are then shed. The nymphs are then inoculated with protozoans by eating the feces of older termites. The newly hatched termites are then able to find a suitable place to start a new colony.
They are considered to be medically harmless, though they can cause significant damage to structural timbers and utility poles. They can be found in many areas in the southwest, especially in the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts.
