How Small Are Soldier Termites?
Termites are small insects that are less than an inch in length. They are blind, which means they cannot see light. They build tunnels in the ground and chew holes in wood. They also live in colonies underground. They are known to cause millions of dollars in damage to homes every year.
Workers are the most common members of a termite colony. They are responsible for defending the colony and for laying eggs. They have straight antennae and are pale in color. They are usually one eighth to three eighths of an inch in length.
Soldier termites are larger than workers and have enlarged jaws. They are equipped with sticky fluids that entrap ants. They protect the nest from predators and warn other termites of danger.
Depending on the species, they can be between one and two inches long. They are the largest caste in a colony. They have brown heads and enlarged mandibles. They can live for as long as two years.
Reproductive termites are sexually mature adults that dig a cell in the ground or wood and mate. They lay hundreds of eggs each day. The male and female alates become the king and queen of the colony. They typically live for more than a decade.
A termite colony can reach 1 million members. Its members are called alates, soldiers, nymphs, and queens. A single queen can lay up to 18,250,000 eggs in her lifetime. The size of the colony varies according to the environmental conditions.