Termites
WouterTermites are social insects that belong to the order Isoptera. Termites feed on plant matter, wood and animal dung. They also recycle dead plant materials. They are considered to be one of the most successful insect groups. They are found in tropical regions, except for Antarctica.
The termite thorax has three segments. The forewings are about 10 mm long and are milky translucent. The hindwings are equally long. The wings stay at right angles while flying.
In many species, the termite thorax is covered with flagellate protists. These protozoa digest cellulose, which is a source of energy. They also eat a variety of bacteria and fungi. They are closely related to the gut flora of the wood-eating cockroach, Cryptocercus.
A colony of termites may consist of 50,000 to 5 million individuals. The worker termite caste is responsible for storing food, foraging and maintaining the nest. The reproductive caste is comprised of female termites. They produce thousands of eggs a day. A queen in a colony may live for up to 15 years. If she dies, the secondary and tertiary reproductives will take over. The colony can continue to survive if the primary queen dies.
The soldier termite caste is characterized by a larger head and mandibles. The soldier’s anatomical specializations help defend the colony. These include large stout mandibles, a globular head and a defense mechanism of shooting toxic glue from the nasus. They can block narrow termite tunnels. They can also respond to breeches in tunnel walls.
