Termite Enemies

Termite enemies are species that tend to have a hard time coexisting with these creatures. In nature every type of animal and insect has natural enemies and termites are no exception. There are certain things about them that are remarkable and out of ordinary in this regard, and they are worth mentioning from an educational standpoint. Termite enemies can wreak havoc on colonies and disrupt their way of life. Since the termite life cycle in the home colony is ordinarily characterized by order and relative predictability, the presence of enemies can really disrupt existence for this pest.

Harmony in the Termite Colony

Many species of creatures are known to develop competitive tendencies among them even within colonies or groups that live together side by side. This is true in countless groups of insects, animals, and even in humans. But in single colonies of termites, no evidence of competitiveness can be discerned. Each member of the colony acts as part of a single organism. In this way termites are quite distinct in nature. Individual members of a colony cannot be observed competing for food resources or for mating privileges. Unlike so many other species, individuals simply do their jobs and function as working parts of the whole, focused on the greater good of the colony. Individual members will even sacrifice their lives in defense of the colony.

Termites as Colony Defenders

Termite soldiers put up quite a defense when the colony is under stack. They can use their powerful jaws to defend themselves against their most common enemies. If the nest is about to be invaded soldiers can even puff themselves up until their bodies actually explode, hitting attackers with their remains. This action also helps close off tunnels to prevent invaders from getting inside.

Common Termite Enemies

As previously stated, no rivalry typically exists inside the confines of the termite colony. However, rival colonies often become enemies, particularly when they are both attempting to claim the same source of food. When multiple colonies try to compete for resources to help ensure their survival, the result is usually the eventual harming of both colonies. It is interesting to observe these interactions in nature away from civilization where colony sizes can become massive, numbering well into the millions.

Aside from rival colonies, different types of ants are also commonly enemies of termites. Fire ants particularly earn the enmity of these pests. They often get the best of termites in their battles. Once again, soldiers are willing to die in their service, trying to eliminate the threat and save the colony at any cost. These warrior termites are really the ones most capable of carrying on this type of battle with ants, even if the colony often ends up defeated.

It is interesting and informative to study the actions of termites and termite enemies in natural situations like these when they are united against a common enemy. It speaks to their solidarity and the strength of their bond. Colonies of these creatures are united in their common purposes, which are essentially perpetuation of the colony and the good of the whole over that of the individual. These types of traits also help to explain why termites can be such a difficult enemy to defeat in our homes. Their dedication to one another and to the whole makes them hard to stop. They are relentless in their efforts and industrious in their ways, feeding all the time and always producing work for the well being of the colony. Termite control is important because in termites, humans have found a very formidable and unified enemy.