Termite Biological Traits

Termites are biologically different from other insects, especially from ants. Although they look like ants, they are not in any was associated with ants.

There is another factor that is different from other insects and that is the fact that termites are the only insects that you will find eating away at your home. All other insects that come into your home are simply pests looking for food. Although termites are looking for food, their food is the wood that makes up the structure of your home. This means that the strength of the structure becomes compromised over time.

What is amazing is that termites are needed within the ecosystem. They take organic cellulose material that is decaying and they convert into fertile soil. This shows how termites are not useless. They are simply annoying when they decide that the new wood of your home is the delicacy that they are looking for. This means that they have become very costly pests.

Termite Eggs

The first part of the termite lifespan starts as they hatch from eggs. Unlike many insects, they do not go through a pupal stage before they grow into adulthood. Basically, termites are an insect that has an incomplete metamorphosis. When they hatch from their eggs, they look like small adults. This means that their maturity process happens quickly so that they can begin their respective jobs within the colony.

When they hatch, none of the termites have wings. This is something that occurs later and to only some of the termites. The ones that grow wings are called "swarmers" and they are the ones that reproduce. The rest become soldiers and workers.

Traits

Termites are rather selfless when it comes to their colony mates. They are so determined for their colony to survive. If a termite must, it will sacrifice itself to make sure the colony will survive. Soldier termites will also fight for the survival of the colony. They have very prominent and strong jaws. They will use these jaws to defend their colony against ants and rival colonies.

Worker ants are pale in color. They are the ants that work on bringing food to the colony. They are also blind. They work in the dark. Plus, it is important that other senses are heightened in order for them to be able to find food. Their sense of smell is very strong. They can smell their own tracks in order to find their way back to their colony.

While surviving, termites will feed on support beams, wood floors, books, foundations, and any other materials that have cellulose within them. They thrive on cellulose, so this results in them doing a lot of damage. The good news is that termites are not usually biters. They are not harmful to humans, but are harmful to the dwellings of humans. It is possible, however, for soldiers to bite humans while defending the dwelling. The remainder simply concentrates on working to ensure the colony does not starve and that the colony continues to grow.

If you are wondering whether or not there are termites in your area, there are a number of biological traits to look for. You may see them outside, see the termites with wings flying around, and you may have neighbors complaining about them. You can also look at trees around your home and see that they create tunnels on tree trunks. This allows them to create a path from their nest to the ground. Sometimes, termites do create their nests up high. They have even been known to create mounds like ants do. Termites like to form a very cozy home for themselves because they intend on being there for a while.