Eastern Subterranean Termite: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Tiny Builders · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. A mature colony can hold anywhere from 20,000 to 5 million workers. Its queen lays 5,000 to 10,000 eggs a year.
2. Soldiers make up just 1 to 2% of the colony, but their long black mandibles crush invading ants.
3. Termites can't digest wood on their own. They rely on gut flagellates that ferment lignocellulose into sugars.
4. Baby termites are born without their gut microbes. They get them through anal-fluid feeding.
5. Winged termites take to the air in massive swarms, then shed their wings to start new colonies.

The quiz

1. At most, how many workers can a mature colony hold?

• 50,000
• 500,000
• Fifty million
• Five million (correct)

A mature colony can hold from 20,000 up to 5 million workers.

2. What do soldier termites use to crush invading ants?

• Stingers
• Long black mandibles (correct)
• Sticky silk
• Sharp claws

Soldier termites have long black mandibles that crush invading ants.

3. What helps termites digest wood?

• Fungus gardens only
• Sunlight
• Flagellates in their gut (correct)
• Strong stomach acid

Gut flagellates ferment lignocellulose into sugars.

4. How do baby termites get their gut microbes?

• Through anal-fluid feeding (correct)
• From the soil outside
• From the wood they chew
• They are born with them

Baby termites are born without these microbes and get them through anal-fluid feeding.

5. What do winged termites do after swarming?

• Fly back to the old nest
• Migrate to a new continent
• Lay eggs in the air
• Shed their wings to start new colonies (correct)

Winged termites swarm, then shed their wings to start new colonies.

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