Colony Role (jobs)

• Forage for food
• Feed other termite family members
• Groom other termite family members
• Build and maintain colony tunnels and carton
• Primary caregivers for the young termite nymphs

Characteristics and Adaptations (tools)

• Highest numbered caste
• Blind
• Enhanced sense of smell
• Thin exoskeleton
• Hard, powerful, chewing mouthparts
• Gut Protozoa that helps to digest cellulose (component in plant cell wall).

Colony Role (jobs)

•  Protect the colony from intruders

Characteristics and Adaptations (tools)

• Approximately 1 soldier for every 10 workers
• Blind
• Large, hard, reddish-brown head
• Scissor-like black pinchers (modified mouthparts)
• Some species have added defenses such as a pore on the top of their head that shoots a sticky-like substance onto attacking enemies.

Colony Role (jobs)

• Alates: find a mate and start new colonies (future kings and queens)
• King and Queen (primary reproductives): Reproduce and determine caste numbers based on feedback from the colony at a particular point in time.
• Secondary Reproductive: take over and maintain colony numbers when the King and Queen are sick or dying.
• Alate (reproductive) Nymph: immature alate

Characteristics and Adaptations (tools)

• Alates: eyesight, wings and thick exoskeleton
• Queen: enlarged abdomen and chemicals
• Secondary Reproductive: slightly enlarged abdomen, similar in appearance to a worker
• Alate Nymph: small wing stubs