Termite Reproduction
Termite Life Cycle
1- Termites undergo incomplete metamorphosis i.e. the eggs turn into nymphs that undergo
several stages of molting (change of skin or the exoskeleton) before turning into adult termites
2- Basically, all termites start as eggs, and all eggs are capable of developing into any caste.
The eggs hatch into larvae, and through a series of molts, the larvae develop into workers. The workers can undergo a two-stage molt and become soldiers. Older termites can even undergo regressive molts and go back to an earlier stage.
3- In addition to laying eggs, the king and queen produce pheromones that help regulate life
in the colony. These pheromones determine how many larvae become workers, soldiers and alates. If the king or queen dies, these pheromones disappear. Then, one of the secondary or tertiary reproductives becomes the new primary reproductive, sometimes after killing off the competition. Queens can live up to 25 years, while most workers live between two and five years.
Establishment of a New Colony
1-Termites usually swarm in the spring when the air is very humid and still, often just after it’s rained. Many species swarm simultaneously, even if their colonies are separated by long distances. Scientists are not sure how this happens, but they suspect that it helps improve genetic diversity by allowing termites from different colonies to mate. This is especially important because most of the alates do not live to bear young. Instead, they become food for birds, toads and other animals.
2-After a male and female alate form a pair, they land and break off their wings. At this point, they’re called dealates. They look for shelter, typically in a small hole or depression that’s near both soil and wood. They seal this nest with saliva, soil and their own waste. Then, they mate, and the new queen lays eggs.
3-The king and queen care for the first generation of the new colony on their own until they’ve raised enough workers to take over the job. Workers expand the nest, and the queen’s abdomen enlarges so she can lay more eggs. It takes two to four years for the colony to mature, and then the cycle starts again with a new set of alates swarming to form new colonies.
4-Termite colonies can survive for a long time, and in some species, queens lay thousands of eggs every day. For these reasons, termite nests can be enormous. Next, we’ll take a look at where termites live and how they build their homes.
