Social behavior in termites

Zoologists

1. Topic : Social behavior in termites By: Allah Nawaz Khan Reg. ZO220172005 Submitted to : Mam Irum Gul

2. SOCIAL INSECTS:- TERMITES Termites colonies are found in regions of africa , south america , Australia and the united states. They are social insects but less advanced that ants colonies. Termites are related more to cockroaches. The termite colony has three class of individuals and each class includes both sexes. Termites digest wood and paper. Some species of termites build nests up to 6 meters in height.

3. DESCRIPTION These termites use a sophisticated chemical(pheromone) communication system. Although termites utilize a wide range of pheromones categorized as trail, alarm,aggregation,mating and others. Trail pheromones is produced by termites when they are trying to get other member of the colony to follow then to a particular area perhaps a new food source for the colony. Termites dislike daylight. Some species lives in nests called termitaria .

4. FERTILE CASTES It is of 3 types-( a)LARGE WINGED FORMS These are king and queen. The ocelli are usually present. The sole duty of queen is to lay eggs. ( b)SHORT WINGED FORM- These are supplementary kings and queens. The wings are short, pad like and vestigial. The ocelli may be present or not. (c) WINGLESS FORM Wings are absent. The ocelli are absent.

5. STERILE CASTES These are wingless, eyeless and colorless. The sex organs are rudimentary Incapable of reproduction. It is of 3 types WORKERS- They are dimorphic. They are trimorphic in some cases. They construct, repair the nest collect and distribute food. (b)SOLDIERS-They are larger than the workers. The soldiers defend the colony by killing the intruders with their mandibles. NASUTES- The nasutes also called the proboscideans . They possess large head prolonged into rostrum.

6. FEEDING AND SWARMING The termites commonly feed on living as well as dead plant material. They are able to digest cellulose with the help of symbiotic Protozoa , such as Trichonympha . The termites also take fungi and dead bodies of their fellows. In the rainy season true kings and queens are produced in large numbers. They leave the termitarium through holes made by the workers and fly away to new sites . This is called swarming or dispersal flight.

7. FOUNDING NEW COLONIES At new site one king and one queen mate shed wings at the preformed breaking point, dig out burrow and start new colony. The queen lay eggs these eggs are hatch into workers . Some eggs and nymph are eaten up by the parents. She is tented by the workers and her abdomen gets packed with eggs. When her fertility lessens , her feeding is suspended and she dies of starvation. Her body is eaten up.The king changes up little. He only grows a bit larger due to good diet. The eggs are oval with pale color and smooth.

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