How Old Can Termites Live?
WouterTermites have a very complex social structure. Their lifespan varies depending on their species and the role they play in the colony. The average life span of a termite is two to four years. They can also live up to 25 years in captivity and up to 50 years in the wild.
The lifespan of termites is determined by a variety of factors, including the environment, social order of the colony, and the type of life cycle. There are two main types of termites: workers and alates.
A worker is a member of a colony that lives to feed other termites. It has pale transparent white color and small or absent eyes. It builds chambers, tunnels, and feeds other termites. It also carries eggs, called ootheca, to deposit them. A reproductive adult termite, or alate, is an adult termite that has a pair of wings for flying.
A reproductive alate has a larger back pair of wings, which she uses for mating. She is the queen of the colony, and she usually lives for one year or more. If she dies, a secondary reproductive termite becomes the new queen. She then begins a new colony.
King and queen termites begin a colony by mating. They then take care of the first batch of eggs. They also perform a mild courtship dance. When they find a mate, they fly out in large numbers to meet. Some swarmers die in their search for a mate. Other swarmers die from injury or dehydration.
