Termites are social insects that organize into colonies with distinct castes, each performing specialized roles for the colony’s survival. Among these, reproductive termites hold an important role, as their functions directly influence the growth, expansion, and long-term viability of the entire colony.
Types and Roles of Reproductive Termites
Termite colonies feature different forms of reproductives. Primary reproductives, known as the king and queen, are the founders of a new colony. The queen, often significantly larger than other termites due to her egg-filled abdomen, is responsible for laying all the eggs. The king remains with the queen, periodically mating with her to sustain egg production. These primary reproductives develop from winged forms called alates, which are the only termites exposed to sunlight, causing them to have darker pigmentation and eyes.
Beyond the primary pair, colonies can also develop secondary, or supplementary, reproductives. These individuals emerge from nymphs or workers within an existing colony, often when the colony is large or if the primary queen’s egg-laying capacity declines, or if the queen dies. Secondary reproductives can supplement egg production or even fully take over the reproductive role, allowing the colony to continue thriving for many years. Some secondary reproductives, known as brachypterous neotenics, develop from larvae and have wing pads, while others, called apterous neotenics, derive from workers and lack wing pads entirely.
Reproductive Process and Colony Establishment
The reproductive cycle of termites begins with swarming. This involves the emergence of winged reproductive termites, known as alates, from a mature colony. Swarming usually occurs under specific environmental conditions, such as warm temperatures and high humidity, often after rainfall, which makes it easier for them to survive outside the nest. The purpose of this synchronized flight is for these alates to find mates and establish new colonies.
During the swarming flight, male and female alates pair up. After finding a mate, they shed their wings and then burrow into moist soil or wood to excavate a new nest chamber. This newly formed pair becomes the king and queen of the new colony.
The queen then begins laying eggs, initially a small number, perhaps 6 to 12 eggs within days or weeks. As the colony grows, the queen’s egg-laying capacity increases, reaching thousands of eggs per day in a mature colony. The first offspring develop into workers and soldiers, who then take over the care of subsequent eggs and the royal pair, allowing the queen to focus solely on reproduction. A newly established colony takes 5 years to mature before it can produce its own alates.
Identifying Reproductive Termites
Distinguishing reproductive termites from other termite castes and other insects is possible by observing their physical characteristics. Winged reproductive termites, or alates, are darker in color, ranging from brown to black, unlike the pale, creamy white workers. Alates possess four translucent wings of equal size, which extend well beyond their body length. In contrast, workers and soldiers are wingless.
When differentiating winged termites from flying ants, several features are helpful. Termites have straight, beaded antennae, whereas ants have elbowed or bent antennae. Termites also have a broad, uniform waist, giving their body a more cylindrical appearance, while ants have a distinctly pinched waist, creating three noticeable body segments. Flying ants have hindwings that are shorter than their forewings, unlike the equally sized wings of termites.
Primary kings and queens, once they have shed their wings, are found within the colony’s nest. Secondary reproductives, resembling workers, are also found within the colony.