Why Are Termites White?
WouterTermites are cellulose-eating insects. They can cause thousands of dollars worth of structural damage to your home. They can be found around detritus, but they can also enter your home through structural points. They are often mistaken for white ants. They are actually black, brown, and red.
There are over 2,600 species of termites worldwide. They live in different environments and have different colors. Some prefer moist areas, while others prefer dry wood. They are sensitive creatures and can go undetected for years.
The termite’s social structure shows a lot of similarities to that of bees. The colony is divided into three castes: reproductives, workers, and soldiers.
Reproductives are the ones that leave the nest and search for a mate. They are the swarmers of the termite population. They can fly up to kilometers. They swarm mid-late spring after rainfall increases humidity. They then travel to soil and build new colonies.
Workers are the majority of the colony. They do most of the work, outside of reproduction and defense. They are soft-bodied and translucent. They are also blind.
The soldiers are larger than other castes and have enlarged heads and pincers on the end of their abdomens. They are equipped with a chemical spray to defend themselves from predators.
Termites differ from ants in many ways. They have longer wings than their bodies. They have antennae that are straight instead of bent. They have a thinner waist.
They are sometimes confused with moths. They have three sections of their body, including two wings that are folded over twice as long as the termite’s body.
