Last week we talked about how termites appeared to have evolved, or rather devolved, from a type of cockroach into the terror of homes everywhere. One of the significant changes that made them different from other roaches was how they became community-minded and cooperative, rather than independent. They also developed a rare quality amongst the insects of the world… They’re monogamous.
So, in the spirit of couples everywhere, we’re dedicating this pre-Valentine’s Day post to the termite king and queen.
One on One
Monogamy is extremely rare in the insect world. Most species practice polyandry, females who mate with multiple males, to ensure reproductive success. Only 3-5% of animals are actually monogamous, in a strange way making termites closer to humans than most mammals.
Monogamy offers a shared emotional connection that can deepen and grow over time. Sexual intimacy is part of this, but not the only factor. Partners who focus a good portion of their energy on each other and support their emotional and mental well-being make a relationship more satisfying. It helps when there is a mutual commitment to exclusivity, creating a more predictable, dependable partnership.
Stability for oneself and your offspring is another advantage. That’s a fancy way of saying that monogamous relationships generally lead to a more stable partnership and family setting in which to raise kids. A two-parent family tends to allow for shared responsibilities and a positive impact on children’s development and well-being. We all know it doesn’t always work that way, but that’s the goal. And shared goals are a big factor as well. Two people in a physical relationship, working together for shared dreams and common life objectives build a strong family.
Are We Still Talking About Termites?
Yes, termites embrace monogamy for many of the same reasons as humans do, although they’re not bringing home flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day and annual anniversaries. Every year, between March and June, flying termites, or alates, are sent out from the nest in which they were born to mate and start a new nest. This could be anywhere from a few feet to up to 500 yards away.
Once these flying termites connect with one another and reproduce, their offspring start building the new nest. A pregnant termite queen can lay up to 30,000 eggs, sometimes every day, so it’s easy to see how quickly a new nest can grow. In the beginning, almost all of those eggs are going to hatch worker termites with only a few alates, on the off chance that the king is accidentally killed. The worker termites all have their own responsibilities. Some care for the young while others build and restore the nest. If the queen loses her mate, she will live on, but only mate with male offspring from her previous mate. It takes approximately 2-3 years after a colony is founded to start sending out alates to found new colonies.
That’s why if you find numerous discarded wing pieces around your house, you should not delay getting it inspected. You could already have a hearty colony chewing away at your walls and foundation.
Termite Parenting Skills
Depending on your point of view, the termite king and queen are excellent parents or… we’ll let you decide. As we mentioned, the termites in a colony, all birthed by the queen, are broken out into workers and alates and the workers into their various jobs. The queen feeds the workers more, keeping the alates lean, the workers robust.
What does she feed them? Her feces. Yes, you read that right. Eating wood isn’t strange enough. Ingesting feces, both their own and that of other animals, gives them essential nutrients, including the microbes that keep their guts healthy as they devour wood. Poop provides extra undigested cellulose and bacteria that acts as antibiotics for termites.
When the queen feeds her kids feces, it contains pheromones, part of how the colony communicates, to embed in each termite baby their life purpose. Then the whole group works together to build and maintain the colony. That includes caring for the sick as well as preventative termite medicine.
Bye, Bye Termites
As much as we may admire termites and their intricacies from a scientific basis, we absolutely don’t want them in our homes.
Termites pose a serious threat to structures on the Gulf Coast of Florida, costing owners nationwide an average of $6 billion a year. We like to say every home either has, or will have, a termite problem at some point. And that’s why we offer both our pre-construction treatment and our Term Assure 365+. Our pre-construction Bora-Care treatment prevents and eliminates termites, powderpost beetles, carpenter ants, and old house borers. It also kills and prevents algae and wood decay fungi.
Term Assure 365+ combines our popular Perimeter Plus pest control with a full home inspection and installation of always active termite bait stations. It’s the most comprehensive termite protection you can buy. And it includes a $1 million subterranean termite repair warranty, something you won’t find in your homeowner’s insurance. For complete details, or to schedule your appointment, please give us a call!