Termites are eusocial insects, living in highly organized colonies with a division of labor. They are classified as detritophagous, consuming dead plant material, typically wood. Colony expansion is driven by reproduction, which begins with the laying of eggs.
The Reproductive Castes
Termite colonies maintain a strict reproductive hierarchy where only specific individuals are fertile. The primary reproductives are the King and Queen, a founding pair that establishes the colony after a nuptial flight and remains monogamous. The Queen is the sole egg-layer in a young colony, sustaining millions of individuals.
Workers and soldiers, the vast majority of the colony, are sterile and do not lay eggs. However, the colony possesses a contingency plan: supplementary or secondary reproductives. These individuals, sometimes called neotenics, can develop from nymphs or workers if the primary Queen is injured or dies. They ensure the colony’s survival by taking over the egg-laying function or augmenting egg production in a mature environment.
The Incredible Scale of Egg Production
The reproductive output of a mature Queen requires significant physical adaptation. Her abdomen dramatically enlarges in a process known as physogastry, as her ovaries expand to produce eggs rapidly. This increase in size is due to the unfolding and stretching of her abdominal cuticle, allowing her to become an egg-laying machine.
A mature Queen can produce thousands of eggs daily; some tropical Queens lay up to 36,000 eggs in a single day. The eggs are small, oval, and translucent or white, often laid in clusters within the royal chamber. Worker termites immediately collect the newly laid eggs and transport them to specialized incubation chambers. This constant care prevents the eggs from developing mold or desiccation.
From Egg to Colony Member
The egg stage marks the beginning of the termite life cycle, involving simple or incomplete metamorphosis. Unlike insects with complete metamorphosis, the termite egg hatches directly into a tiny, pale, soft-bodied young known as a nymph. Nymphs are initially dependent on the worker caste for food and care.
Nymphs undergo a series of molts, shedding their exoskeleton as they grow. During this nymphal period, the individual’s ultimate role within the colony is determined. Caste differentiation is a flexible process controlled by pheromonal signals and nutritional cues provided by the King and Queen. These chemical signals regulate the developmental path, steering the nymphs toward becoming workers, soldiers, or winged reproductives called alates.
The majority of nymphs are channeled into the worker caste, responsible for all labor, including foraging, nest construction, and feeding others. A smaller number differentiate into soldiers, which develop specialized heads and mandibles for defense. Some nymphs develop wing pads and become alates, eventually leaving the colony to swarm and establish a new reproductive cycle.