Why Do Termites Exist?
WouterTermites are an ecologically important species. They are an excellent source of protein and nutrients for insects, birds and small mammals. They also help regulate humidity and temperature.
Termites are one of the world’s largest groups of insects. They have been around for at least 170 million years. They started out as cockroaches, but they have evolved to eat cellulose. This is the main compound found in the cell walls of plants.
They can be found throughout the world. In the United States, they can be found in southern California and the Deep South. They can also be found in Australia. Termites feed on wood and other organic materials. They have also been known to eat cotton.
Termite colonies can have thousands to millions of members. The size of the colony is determined by the amount of food it needs to sustain itself. The queen is the largest of all the termite species.
Termite colonies are composed of many different forms or castes. There are workers, soldiers and reproductives. There are also nymphs and larvae.
Termites are very attracted to moisture. They build their nests out of wet wood or soil. They will also dig holes into wet or rotting tree stumps.
There are three types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite builds a different type of nest. The subterranean termite is the most common. They prefer the climate of the Deep South and need a moist environment to thrive.
