What Family Do Termites Belong To?
WouterTermites belong to the Dictyoptera superfamily, which also includes the cockroach and mantis. They have been studied for hundreds of years. It is now believed that they evolved from a common ancestor, the cockroach.
Termites are found in most parts of the world, but are rarely sighted. They live in colonies. The major castes in a colony are workers and soldiers. The soldiers have large mouthparts for defense.
Termites are found in all continents except Antarctica. They feed on dead plant matter. They also digest wood. They emit methane, which is a greenhouse gas. They have been used in many ways, including as a treatment for asthma and tonsillitis.
There are many species of termites. One of the largest is the dampwood termite. These termites are 25mm long and live in forests and wet wood. The queens of this species have 30 eggs per day.
Grass-harvesting termites are another type of termite. These insects live in tropical forests. Their average life span is two years. These termites can be found in Africa. They are also very large, with a head size of around three inches. They are not as common in North America.
There are four major suborders within the termite family: Hodotermidiae, Serritermitidae, Reticulitermes and Termitoidae. The termites in this family are similar to subterranean termites. Their nests resemble mounds, and they sometimes engage in necrophoresis. This involves a nest mate carrying away a corpse.
There are more than 2800 members of the termite family worldwide. They are most abundant in the tropical regions of the southern hemisphere. They are not closely related to ants.
