The Classification of Termites
Termites--insects that damage wooden structures by gnawing through them--are part of the Animalia kingdom, Anthropoda phylum, Insecta class, Isoptera order. The Isoptera order splits into six families: Hodotermitidae (dampwood termites), Kalotermitidae, Mastotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae (subterranean termites), Termitidae and Termopsidae. Termites are also classified by the function they perform in the termite colony. The queen lays eggs, while the workers gather food and the soldiers protect the colony. Does this Spark an idea?
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Hodotermitidae (Dampwood Termites)
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Untreated wood, especially if moist, attracts Hodotermitidae termites. They infest damp, decayed wood and are often found in dead trees lying on damp or wet ground.
Kalotermitidae (Drywood Termites)
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The Kalotermitidae family of termite targets dry wood and chews through furniture, attic framings and other wood structures. Kalotermitidae infestations cause a great deal of damage to residential dwellings if not stopped in time.
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Mastotermitidae
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The only surviving species of the Mastotermitidae family of termite, Mastotermes darwiniensis, resides in underground colonies of nests interconnected by passages close to the surface. They are found in northern Australia, where they thrive on a very eclectic diet.
Rhinotermitidae (Subterranean)
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Rhinotermitidae termites live underground where they build tunnels to reach food sources. They seek cellulose-containing products to eat and possess saw-toothed jaws that bite off tiny pieces of wood as they gnaw their way through structures. They are attracted to humid areas in and around wood, such as wood scraps buried in the ground. They cause the most destruction of all the termite species.
Termitidae
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Termitidae termites eat plant materials from the soil as well as dry grass and weathered wood. They sometimes invade the nests of other termites but are not as devastating to human properties as some other varieties of termite. They reside in colonies, as is typical of their species, and are considered the largest termite family.
Termopsidae
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Termopsidae is a dampwood family of termite residing in a cluster of enclaves in damp, rotten wood above the ground. It thrives in a small colony, not causing much economic damage.
The Termite Colony
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A type of classification exists within a colony of termites. Each individual "knows" his function. Soldier termites, for example, cannot eat wood. All the gnawing of cellulose-containing product is done by workers and nymph termites. The soldier's role is to protect the colony. Workers and soldiers have their blindness in common. The termite king and queen, each owning a pair of wings, shed them upon mating. New workers are born of their union.
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