The queen termite serves as the central reproductive figure within a termite colony. Her primary role involves the continuous production of eggs, which ensures the colony’s growth and survival. Understanding her appearance is important for identifying the source of an infestation and comprehending the dynamics of termite societies.
Distinctive Size and Form
The most striking characteristic of a queen termite is her significantly enlarged abdomen, a condition known as physogastry. This distended abdomen can make her appear disproportionately large when compared to other termites in the colony. Her overall length can range from several centimeters up to 10-15 centimeters in some mature species, such as those found in the genus Macrotermes.
This abdominal enlargement is directly related to her immense egg-laying capacity. The abdomen often appears paler than the rest of her body, typically a creamy white to light brown, and can be somewhat translucent due to the stretched cuticle. The massive size of her abdomen contrasts sharply with her relatively small head and thorax.
Key Features of the Head and Thorax
While her abdomen undergoes significant changes, the queen’s head and thorax remain comparatively small and less altered. Her head is generally rounded or oval, often appearing darker in color than her swollen abdomen. She possesses a pair of antennae, which are typically beaded or moniliform, meaning they resemble a string of beads.
The queen’s thorax, positioned behind her head, bears evidence of her winged past. After her nuptial flight, she sheds her functional wings, leaving behind four small wing stubs or scars. These remnants are a clear indicator that she was once a winged reproductive, known as an alate. She also has six short, functional legs attached to her thorax, which allow for limited movement within the royal chamber.
Differentiating from Other Termite Castes
Distinguishing a queen termite from other colony members involves observing her unique features in contrast to workers, soldiers, and the king. Worker termites are typically small, pale, and soft-bodied, lacking the queen’s extreme abdominal distension. Soldier termites are also much smaller than the queen, characterized by their distinctly large, often armored head capsules and specialized mandibles used for defense.
The king termite, while also a reproductive, is considerably smaller than the physogastric queen. He lacks the queen’s massively enlarged abdomen, maintaining a more uniform body shape. Both the king and queen will exhibit the tell-tale wing stubs on their thoraxes, indicating their status as dealated reproductives. The queen’s immense size and pale, distended abdomen are the most definitive visual cues for her identification.