Glossary of Terms

These make up the majority of a termite colony. Workers are soft-bodied and cream to pale white in colour. They are wingless and blind, responsible for feeding the colony, maintaining the nest, and excavating tunnels through wood or soil. Their mouthparts are adapted for chewing cellulose, the primary component of wood, making them the main caste to cause timber damage in people’s homes.

Slightly larger than workers, soldiers are also pale but are distinguished by their enlarged, darkened heads and powerful mandibles. These jaws are usually dark brown in colour and are used as their main line of defence against predators like ants. The head capsule of a soldier termite is highly sclerotised (hardened), which provides extra protection for the colony.

Sometimes called swarmers, alates are winged reproductive members produced during certain times of year. Alates are usually darker in colour, with two pairs of long, equal-length wings that extend beyond their bodies. The wings have a fine network of veins and are shed after their mating flight. Observing discarded wings near windowsills or entry points is a key sign of a nearby termite colony.

Foraging termites are not merely destructive pests; they play a vital role in the ecosystem by decomposing cellulose from wood and other materials, forming extensive underground networks. As social insects, they create large colonies that work collaboratively to consume cellulose, primarily found in wood. This behavior is crucial for nutrient cycling in ecosystems. Termites exhibit cooperative foraging, with worker termites communicating to locate cellulose-rich materials. They can search an area of up to one-third of an acre and travel as far as 100 feet from their colonies in pursuit of food. Their foraging activities are highly collaborative, utilizing pheromones to share information about food sources.

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