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Subterranean Termite Order Isoptera
APPEARANCE:
Four "castes" of a termite colony:
- Worker: approximately one-forth of an inch long, light colored,
wingless;
- Soldier: elongated head with mandibles;
- Supplementary Reproductives: wingless or very short, non-functional
wings; light colored;
- Primary Reproductives: winged, and darker than other members; caste
most often seen by homeowners.
HABITS:
Live in colonies underground, from which they build tunnels in search
of food; able to reach food above the level of the ground by building mud
tubes; dependent on moisture for survival.
DIET:
Wood and other cellulose material. Protozoa break down
cellulose for nutrition.
REPRODUCTION:
Different rates of growth from egg stage to adult depend on individual
species; one queen per colony, which can lay millions of eggs in
her lifetime, but most eggs are laid by supplementary reproductives in an
established colony.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Cause more damage to homes in U.S. than storms and fire combined;
colonies can contain up to 1,000,000 members.
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