TERMITES
Insect     -     Invertebrate     -    Herbivore
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QUEEN TERMITE SURROUNDED BY WORKERS
Male:  Bull
Female:  Cow
Young:  Larva

TERMITES

There are about 4,000 termite species.
  • Colonies are found in the ground or in wood.
  • Have wings that they shed once they have found a suitable place to nest.
  • A colony may house several million individuals.
  • Most prefer a warm, moist environment.
  • Feed on each other's faeces.
  • Are descended from a cockroach-like ancestor.
  • Are very sociable and well groomed.
  • Queens can lay thousands of eggs per day.
  • Queens can live up to 50 years.
  • Workers build and maintain the nest - foraging for and storing wood, leaf litter, soil and animal dung.
  • Soldiers defend the nest.
  • Workers and soldiers are blind.
  • When a soldiers detect danger, they tap warning signals to the colony.
  • Never sleep.
  • Mounds can be very tall.
  • Eat through wood twice as fast when listening to rock music.
  • Like the smell of biro ink.​​​
Visit:  Termites .  COLLECTIVE NOUNS
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TERMITE WORKERS EATING WOOD
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GIRAFFE AT TERMITE MOUND IN BOTSWANA