What Size Are Baby Termites?
WouterTermites are a type of insect that live underground and make their homes in wooden tunnels. They mate and produce eggs, which are then protected in their nests. Eventually, the termites mature and become active adults. They regurgitate partially digested wood, which provides them with essential nutrients for growth.
A termite colony consists of three castes. The workers are the most visible. They are both male and female and comprise the largest group in a colony. They forage outside the nest and bring back food for other termites.
The king and queen of a colony are black or dark brown. They are 3/8 of an inch long. The queen may be 50 years old. These two castes are responsible for the most significant part of the colony’s activity. They respond to intruders and slash at their enemies.
Another caste, the nymphs, are not invulnerable. Some nymphs molt in a hostile manner when the colony needs more workers. Other nymphs develop into false workers.
They are slightly larger than the nymphs, but they do not have wings. They look like miniature termites. They go through a number of molts before they are ready to fly.
The life cycle of a termite is complicated. The length of time it takes for an adult to reach full size depends on the species. For subterranean termites, it can take only three months. During this period, they can cause thousands of dollars of property damage.
