A Brief Introduction to Termites

A Very Brief Introduction to Termites

There be seven families and approximately 2500 species of termites in the order Isoptera world-wide (Waller and La Fage 1987). All argon eusocial and colonies ar composed of diaphanous cliques which include workers, soldiers, nymphs, and larvae (Krishna 1989). The workers be usually the most abundant caste at any given time of the year (Baroni-Urbani et al. 1978). They are responsible for most of the colony maintenance (i.e., feeding of the hooked castes, foraging, structural maintenance) (Krishna 1989). Soldiers serve to protect the colony from invasion by predators (Krishna 1989). Nymphs are prealate forms which function as reproductive stock for the colony. Larvae are the undifferentiated young of the reproductives, and they usually represent the second largest in colony caste proportion (Howard and Haverty 1981).

The Isoptera are phylogenetically separated into lower termites (Mastotermitidae, Kalotermitidae, Hodotermitidae, Termopsidae, Rhinotermitidae, and Serritermitidae) and the higher termites (Termitidae). Termites are closely relate to cockroaches, and they are thought to have evolved from a primitive cockroach-like ascendant approximately 200 million years ago (Krishna 1989).





Termites dissolve also be grouped into four general ecologic types (Nutting and Jones 1990) which are based on where they live and the food they consume. The ecological groupings of termites are: dry wood, damp wood, harvest-festivaler, and subterranean. Dry wood termites are not dependent on the ground for wet. Their source of irrigate is derived metabolically and they are usually found in posts, stumps, and sometimes buildings made of wood (Krishna 1989). Dampwood termites also do not solicit soil contact for moisture, but they do require moisture in the wood they consume. They are found in dead, damp, and icky logs (Krishna 1989). The term harvester is associated with termites that store food products, or harvest fungus which grows in...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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