Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda
Subphylum Hexapoda
Class Insecta
Order Blattodea
Superfamily Blattoidea
No Taxon: Epifamily Termitoidae
Common name: White ants (they are unrelated to ants)
There are 2,900 species in almost 300 genera of 9 families worldwide in the Epifamily Termitoidae group of termites.
Termites are eusocial, which means they have the highest level of organization of animal sociality. They practise brood care of offspring from other individuals; they divide labour into reproductive and non-reproductive groups. Both males and females maintain the colony. There is a reproductive caste (Kings and Queens) and also a sterile worker caste. Many species also produce a soldier caste. Soldiers are not merely larger workers. Their head capsules are uniquely designed for defending the colonies, with various species having different designs, depending on the greatest threats for that species. Most Soldiers cannot feed themselves and instead rely on workers to feed and groom them. Soldiers can be recognized by their darker head capsules.
Their diet is dead plant material mostly wood. Symbiotic bacteria and/or protozoans assist in digesting the cellulose.
The termite colony photographed below was in an old rotting rata log. Eggs, Juveniles and adult.
A soldier termite with its large distinctive large head.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
