termite

Termites are eusocial insects in the order Blattodea (formerly Isoptera). They form colonies that can range from a few dozen to millions of individuals and exhibit a clear division of labor among castes.

Colonies consist of workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals. Workers and soldiers are usually sterile, while winged reproductives (alates) disperse to start new nests.

Termites feed on cellulose in wood, plant litter, and other plant material. They digest cellulose with gut symbionts—protozoa, bacteria, and sometimes archaea—in the hindgut.

Most species are subterranean, living in soil and constructing protective tubes or shelters; others inhabit sound wood, becoming drywood termites that infest timber with little or no contact with soil.

Life cycle involves a king and queen that enlarge the colony through repeated molts of nymphs and workers. Reproduction often begins after swarming, when alates shed their wings and found new colonies.

Ecology and economy: termites contribute to wood decomposition and nutrient cycling, especially in warm, humid ecosystems, but many species are serious pests of buildings, books, and crops.

Diversity: there are thousands of described species, with the greatest diversity in tropical regions; termites vary in feeding habits and nesting strategies, including subterranean, drywood, and dampwood forms.

Control and management: prevention through moisture reduction and termite-resistant materials; mechanical barriers; soil treatments and baits; integrated pest management approaches are commonly used.