Branch 3 - Termite Biology

Front 1

Termites belong to the order or "isoptera" and the word "isoptera" means...?

Back 1

They have equal length wings

Front 2

Name the 3 body parts of a termite:

Back 2

Head, thorax, abdomen

Front 3

The antennae of termites are elbowed and the antennae of ants are straight?

Back 3

False, ant antennae are bent

Front 4

Termites have what type of eye?

Back 4

Compound

Front 5

Termites use their antennae to do three things? What are they?

Back 5

See, smell, and taste

Front 6

Do termites have sharp vision?

Back 6

No

Front 7

What type of mouth does termite have?

Back 7

Chewing - lapping

Front 8

A termite has how many pairs of equal length wings?

Back 8

2

Front 9

Termites have how many legs?

Back 9

6

Front 10

What are spiracles?

Back 10

Air inlets for their breathing systems

Front 11

A termites waist is pinched down like a thread and called a medical? True or false?

Back 11

False, ants have pinched waists

Front 12

Termites have what type of life cycle?

Back 12

Gradual

Front 13

Termite nymphs look nothing like the adults? True or False?

Back 13

True

Front 14

How many instars does a termite?

Back 14

7

Front 15

What 3 conditions are needed to trigger a termite swarm?

Back 15

Temperature, light, and humidity

Front 16

What percent of swarmers die?

Back 16

97%

Front 17

If dead swarmers are in a window seal, are they in the immediate area?

Back 17

No, they are attracted to light and will fly to the window.

Front 18

Why do swarmers shed their wings?

Back 18

They get in the way during mating.

Front 19

Where do swarmers pick to nest?

Back 19

Moist soil under wood.

Front 20

Drywood termites have no distinctive class and the nymphs do all the work for the colony? True or False?

Back 20

True

Front 21

How long can a termite queen live for?

Back 21

25 years

Front 22

What casts can a nymph develop into?

Back 22

Workers, soldiers, winged primary reproductives, and supplementary reproductives.

Front 23

What do drywood termite workers do foe the colony?

Back 23

Feed other caste members, groom the queen, and excavate and make tunnels.

Front 24

What does a soldier termite do?

Back 24

Defend the colony.

Front 25

The queen is the most important member of the colony because she produces most of the eggs?

Back 25

False, the reproductives produce most of the eggs.

Front 26

If the queen is injured or killed will the colony die off?

Back 26

No, the reproductives will take over

Front 27

How eggs can a queen termite lay per day?

Back 27

60 - 80 eggs.

Front 28

Termites are born with protozoan and that is why they can digest wood?

Back 28

False, protozoan is not acquired until the 4th instar

Front 29

Termites must eat liquid droplets in order to get the protozoan needed to digest wood? True or false?

Back 29

True

Front 30

Drywood termites consist of up to how many members?

Back 30

2500

Front 31

Formosan termites consist of how many members?

Back 31

Up to millions

Front 32

Dampwood termites grow as large as how many members?

Back 32

4000

Front 33

Subterranean termite colonies may consist of up to how many members?

Back 33

Hundreds of thousands.