Buhairi Rifqa Moustafid
Termite, a social insects in the Isoptera family, is a common pests closely related to ants, often called ‘white ants.’
Termite reproduces by laying eggs, with the number of eggs varying depending on the species and age.
Initially, a female releases 4-15 eggs, but by the age of 5 years, tropical termites can lay up to 36,000 eggs per day.
Termite has a mass of approximately 0.000053 to 0.000088 ounces or 1.5 to 2.5 mg and a body length ranging from 0.157 to 0.433 inches (4-11 mm), depending on the species.
Its body is soft, and its waist is broader. Similar to an ant, it lives in a colony led by a queen and king.
Read also: Jaguar, Big Cat with Strong Bite and Good Swimmer
Consuming Cellulose to Their Waste
The diet of these insects, nicknamed ‘white ants,’ includes decaying organic matter and materials containing cellulose.
They can also consume fungi as part of their diet, and some species eat soil containing minerals, carbohydrates, soil microorganisms, and polyphenics.
Their intestines are rich in microorganisms capable of breaking down cellulose. This symbiotic relationship benefits both termites and the microorganisms living inside them.
The wood-eaters also harbor bacteria and protozoa. In return, these microorganisms digest cellulose beneficial to their hosts.
Although they can begin the hard work of eating wood, they must supply microorganisms for their digestive tracts.
They engage in a practice known as trophallaxis, or in less scientific terms, they consume each other’s waste.
This cellulose eater also has to replenish itself after molting, making trophallaxis a significant part of termite mound life.
The practice of consuming their waste serves to fulfill the needs of essential microorganisms in their intestines, enabling them to digest various types of decaying food and cellulose.
The Father’s Role in Raising Offspring
Unlike some insect species where males do not survive long after mating, termite fathers, or kings, remain alive and active within the colony after mating.
Termite fathers stay with the queen after mating and remain inside the nest to help ensure the colony’s survival.
The king is responsible for fertilizing the queen’s eggs as required, making a crucial contribution to the reproduction and formation of new generations within the colony.
Apart from reproductive aspects, the king is also involved in parenting roles. They assist in feeding their offspring, which have already been pre-digested in the king’s stomach.
Kings and queens work together in caring for and raising their descendants. They share responsibilities such as feeding, protecting, and supporting the development of offspring within the colony.
Distinguished by Castes
As creatures living in colonies, termites have a caste system consisting of three main parts.
Firstly, there is the soldier caste, characterized by a large head and distinct thickening, serving as protectors of the colony from external disturbances.
Soldiers are equipped with huge mandibles used as weapons in defending the colony.
Secondly, there is the worker caste with a pale body color, resembling nymphs. Comprising 80-90% of the colony population, workers play a vital role.
Worker caste duties include foraging for food, providing food for the queen, building nests, and guarding and caring for the queen.
Lastly, there is the reproductive caste consisting of sexual individuals, with females laying eggs and males fertilizing females.
Read also: Frigatebird, Sleeping While Flying Hundreds of Kilometers
Blind Forces with a Proficient Security System
Both workers and soldiers of almost all termite species experience blindness. This is due to their remarkable adaptation to the dark and humid environment inside their nests.
This condition results in both workers and soldiers almost always being blind, as they do not require the development of functional eyes.
Their activities are limited to low-light conditions within the nest’s boundaries. Conversely, the group that requires vision is the reproductive termites, which need to fly to find partners and locate new nest locations.
Despite being blind, soldiers have a proficient security system. As a form of defense, they have developed a unique way to sound an ‘alarm’ when detecting approaching danger.
By creating the world’s smallest holes inside their nests, termite soldiers have a highly effective warning system.
To trigger the ‘alarm,’ soldiers carefully bump their heads against the nest wall, sending warning vibrations throughout the colony about the impending danger.