A termite is a soft bodied social insect, of the tropical order the Isoptera.
Termites live in colonies that, at maturity, hold from several hundred to several million individuals. The colonies comprise one or more queens, who are of relatively enormous size. Also living there are much smaller kings, and still smaller soldiers, workers and nymphs (semi-mature young).
The termite can live 30 years while the queen termite has the longest life span of any insect in the world, living up to 50 years old, producing at times an egg every two seconds.
Queen termites can 'permit' secondary reproductives (females) to create satellite nests for the colony, but can also chemically block reproduction for the entire colony at any time if she chooses.
Termites spend a great deal of time grooming each other. Their good hygiene is important to their survival, as it keeps parasites and harmful bacteria under control within the colony.
The total mass of all the world's termites exceeds the mass of all the human beings.
Termites can produce up to two liters of hydrogen from ingesting a single sheet of paper, making them one of the Earth's most efficient bioreactors.
Termites have been known to eat food twice as fast when heavy metal music is playing.
Termites may dispose of a quarter of the vegetation litter of an area.
Their wood-eating habits (as in houses and other buildings) brings termites in conflicts with human beings. The wood is broken down in their stomachs by numerous pieces of microorganism, living in symbiosis with their hosts.
In 1713, a pair of Brazilian monks took a swarm of termites to court for eating their monastery. The termites were acquitted when the defense successfully argued that the monks were trespassing on the insects' land, and they were ordered to compensate them by providing a replacement habitat.
Most termites nest underground their entire lives, but termites in Africa and Australia are the greatest builders in the insect kingdom. In Australia they create complex mounds up to 30.5m (100ft) in circumference and 6m (20ft), with chimneys, ridges and pinnacles.
A pound of termites has more nutrients than a pound of beef or pork.
Termites live in colonies that, at maturity, hold from several hundred to several million individuals. The colonies comprise one or more queens, who are of relatively enormous size. Also living there are much smaller kings, and still smaller soldiers, workers and nymphs (semi-mature young).
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| Macro image of a termite worker. By Sanjay Acharya |
The termite can live 30 years while the queen termite has the longest life span of any insect in the world, living up to 50 years old, producing at times an egg every two seconds.
Queen termites can 'permit' secondary reproductives (females) to create satellite nests for the colony, but can also chemically block reproduction for the entire colony at any time if she chooses.
 |
| Mature queen termite surrounded by both workers and soldiers. http://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/image/2289 |
Termites spend a great deal of time grooming each other. Their good hygiene is important to their survival, as it keeps parasites and harmful bacteria under control within the colony.
The total mass of all the world's termites exceeds the mass of all the human beings.
Termites can produce up to two liters of hydrogen from ingesting a single sheet of paper, making them one of the Earth's most efficient bioreactors.
Termites have been known to eat food twice as fast when heavy metal music is playing.
Termites may dispose of a quarter of the vegetation litter of an area.
Their wood-eating habits (as in houses and other buildings) brings termites in conflicts with human beings. The wood is broken down in their stomachs by numerous pieces of microorganism, living in symbiosis with their hosts.
In 1713, a pair of Brazilian monks took a swarm of termites to court for eating their monastery. The termites were acquitted when the defense successfully argued that the monks were trespassing on the insects' land, and they were ordered to compensate them by providing a replacement habitat.
Most termites nest underground their entire lives, but termites in Africa and Australia are the greatest builders in the insect kingdom. In Australia they create complex mounds up to 30.5m (100ft) in circumference and 6m (20ft), with chimneys, ridges and pinnacles.
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| Termite hill (Pixabay) |
A pound of termites has more nutrients than a pound of beef or pork.
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