Termite Social Organization and Behavior

Scientifically termites are classified under the order Isoptera. Termites have a highly evolved social organization and hierarchical structure. They are also communal, and can be found in colonies of various sizes.

Termites exhibit swarm intelligence, wherein each member innately knows his position in the colony and functions accordingly and in relation to each other, even in the absence of a centralized control structure. This is a classic example of a self-organized, decentralized system and can also be seen in schools of fish, flocks of birds, and in the growth of bacteria.

The termites social organization is divided into four key groups. Young nymphs which are the undeveloped termite young. The reproductive termites consisting of a primary queen and king, as well as possible secondary reproductives. Worker termites to build and gather for the colony and soldier termites to defend the colony from outside threats.

After an alate, or winged queen, leaves her home colony she flys off to find a mate and start a new colony. The new queen and king will mate for life. This new colony will start with only a few workers, but will slowly start growing.

When it reaches maturity, a queen termite develops this immense capacity to lay eggs - more than a thousand per day, in fact. It achieves this by developing an extra pair of ovaries with each shedding of its outer skeleton. This, in turn, greatly increases its ability to reproduce. In the course of her life, the queen's body lengthens to a size that restricts her from being able to move about freely so it is up to the worker termites to feed both her and her young.

Worker termites are responsible for the task of building and maintaining the nest, gathering food and feeding the other members of the colony. It is actually the termite workers that cause the damage to your home and property. They work tirelessly during their short two to four year life to take care of the colony.

Soldier termites have evolved to make them great defenders against outside predators. Soldiers have enlarged heads and heavy jaws that make them great protectors. If there is ever a break that exposes the hive soldier termites will line the opening, protecting against outside invaders, while worker termites seal the opening. They will also use their large heads to block tunnels, sacrificing themselves to protect the colony.

Termites are detrivores by nature. In simpler terms, this means that they obtain their nutrients by feeding off organic matter that is already decomposing. Termites are particularly fond of dead plant material because of its cellulose. Cellulose is a rich energy source and is staple to their diet. Among the general grouping of termites in accordance to their feeding behavior - subterranean, drywood, dampwood, soil-feeding, and grass-eating - it is the subterranean and drywood termites that are primarily implicated in the destruction of man-made structures.

While humans consider termites a nuisance, they fill an important role in nature. Termites accelerate the decomposition and breakdown of trees and wood that would otherwise build up and clutter the ecosystem.