In this article we will discuss about the life history of termite with the help of a diagram.
Fig. 255 TERMITE LIFE CYCLE
1. This is the life history of termite or white ant which is a colonial social insect exhibiting well developed cast system.
2. They are polymorphic insects with chewing type of mouth parts.
3. They feed on cellulose from wood, paper cardboard and cotton cloth.
4. They live in well formed nests called termatoriums in trees and soil etc.
5. They exhibit two main castes – The fertile females and males and sterile females and males. The former are called Queen & King and have wings in the beginning. The latter are wingless and are mainly workers and soldiers.
6. The winged male & female, after mating at the beginning of rainy season, retire into a small queen chamber in the soil. The fertile female and male shed their wings as soon as they finish mating. The Queen starts laying eggs at the rate of 4000 eggs per day which develop into workers and 4 soldiers in first few years.
7. Occasionally, in later years, fertile and winged males and females are also produced.
8. The workers are wingless, sterile and have under developed eyes and collect food, make nests and look after young ones and queen.
9. Soldiers guard nests, young ones, queen & have well developed mandibles.