Termites are small, soft bodied, pale-colored insects. Termites of the genus Reticulitermes are subterranean where they feed primarily on damp wood and wood debris. They do feed on wood found above ground by creating a connection or tunnel between the soil and the wood they are eating. These connections look like small tunnels of soil running from the ground to the wood.
Once the termites find damp wood they will begin to carve out “galleries.” These galleries distinguish this species from others, Reticulitermes will only cut with the grain of the wood.
Termites are social insects that live in a caste system. This species is usually divided up into four types of termites. The Primary reproductives (King and Queen) have dark bodies, compound eyes and wings; secondary reproductive adults with pale bodies, wing buds and compound eyes; workers with pale bodies, lacking compound eyes and wings; and soldiers with pale bodies, large jaws, and no wings. Both the soldiers and workers are sterile.
The workers perform the main work of the colony. They collect food, feed the queen, soldiers and young and construct the galleries. The soldiers are the defenders of the colony protecting others with their large mandibles.
