What are termites?


Termites - are soft bodied insects belonging to the family Isoptera. They are sometimes called "white ants" but they are like ants only in that both species live in social colonies. They live in the tropics and temperate countries and make various kinds of nests. Some make galleries in decaying tree trunks, some make nests below the ground, but the most spectacular are large structures built above ground called "termitaria". They are built from earth excavated below ground and cemented together by saliva. Some of these nests are 20 feet high and almost two hard to break open even with a pickaxe. The termite community is divided into four groups, but only two can breed. Each colony is founded by by a "royal pair" and the queen's life is devoted to laying eggs.

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