What are termites?

Termites are soft-bodied insects belonging to the family Isoptera. They are sometimes called white ants but they are likes aunts only in that both species live in social colonies. They live in the tropics and temperate countries and make various kinds of nests. Some make galleries in decaying tree trunks, some makes nests below the ground, but the most spectacular are large structures built above ground called termitaria. They are built from earth excavated below ground and cemented together by saliva. Some of these nests are 20 feet high and almost too hard to break open even with a pickaxe.

She termite community is divided into four groups, but only two can breed. Each colony is founded by a royal pair and the queen’s life is devoted to taking eggs.