Where Does Termites Live?
WouterTermites live in a social environment called colonies. Each member performs a specific task for the colony. Each colony may contain several thousand individuals. Termites can be very destructive to wooden structures.
Termites have four castes. The castes are reproductives, soldiers, alates, and workers. They also have different color schemes.
Reproductive termites, also known as swarmers, are sexually mature adults that seek food and lay eggs. They live in subterranean chambers underground. When the weather is warm enough, they will fly to find mates. They can also be found above ground.
In the first week of life, the termite larvae feed on regurgitated food. This helps them develop into nymphs and workers. The worker termites are slightly smaller than the reproductives. They are responsible for maintaining the colony and feeding the soldiers.
During the first year of their lives, most subterranean termites lay fewer than 100 eggs. During the next few months, the number of workers increases. A few workers will develop into soldiers.
The queen termite is the largest in size. She is the queen of the colony and lives in a chamber underground. The queens and kings produce inhibitory pheromones to suppress the development of the soldier caste.
A termite can enter a home through small cracks in the foundation. They can also enter through siding or roof vents. The most common sign of an infestation is the presence of live termites.
Termites build complex tunnel networks to help them get to their food source. They also need moisture in order to survive. If the temperature drops below freezing, they will die.
