How Do Termites Shed Their Skin?
WouterTermites are a kind of social cockroach that is found throughout the world. They are most common in tropical areas. These small insects have been around for many millions of years. They feed on wood and other materials. They cause billions of dollars in damage every year.
These tiny, social insects live in a colony with other insects. The main purpose of the colony is to reproduce. The workers do most of the work.
The termite exoskeleton protects them from the environment. This exoskeleton is made up of chitin. This is tough material, which is also found in the shells of crabs and lobsters. The nymphs will eventually shed their skin to develop into worker termites.
There are over 2,800 species of termites worldwide. The Blattodea suborder is responsible for the largest population. There are about 50 species in North America.
The termite queen is the reproductive member of the colony. This female can lay hundreds of eggs a day during the first year of life. Her body is dark brown or black in color and she has long white wings. Her physogastric stomach expands as she gets older.
The reproductive termites are often mistaken for winged ants. However, they have different wing lengths and a physiographic stomach. Unlike ants, the reproductive termites can survive predator attacks. They gather into swarms in the summer to find mates.
Reproductive termites are usually located near the colony’s original nest. They may die in a predator attack, but they will survive to form a new colony.
