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Termites are found on all continents except Antarctica. The diversity of termite species is reduced in North America and Europe (10 species known in Europe and 50 in North America), but is high in South America, in which over 400 species have been known.34 Of the 3,000 termite species currently categorized, 1,000 are found in Africa, where mounds are extremely abundant in certain regions.
Due to their soft cuticles, termites do not inhabit cold or cool habitats.36 There are three environmental forms of termites: dampwood, drywood and subterranean. Dampwood termites are found only in coniferous woods, and drywood termites are found in hardwood forests; subterranean termites live in widely diverse regions.34 One species in the drywood category is that the West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis), which can be an invasive species in Australia.37.
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Termites are usually small, measuring between 4 to 15 millimetres (0.16 to 0.59Â in) in length.34 The biggest of extant termites are the queens of those species Macrotermes bellicosus, measuring around over 10 centimetres (4Â in) in length.38 Another giant termite, the extinct Gyatermes styriensis, flourished in Austria during the Miocene and had a wingspan of 76 millimetres (3.0Â in) and a body length of 25 millimetres (0.98Â in).39note 1.
Most worker and soldier termites are blind because they do not own a set of eyes. However, some species, such as Hodotermes mossambicus, have compound eyes which they use for orientation and to distinguish sunlight from moonlight.40 The alates (winged males and females) have eyes along with lateral ocelli.
Termite antennae have a number of functions such as the sensing of touch, taste, odours (including pheromones), heat and vibration. The three primary segments of a termite antenna include a scape, a pedicel (typically shorter than the scape), and the flagellum (all segments beyond the scape and pedicel). The mouth parts contain a maxillae, a labium, and a set of mandibles.
Consistent with all insects, the anatomy of this termite thorax consists of three segments: the prothorax, the mesothorax and the metathorax. Each segment contains a pair of legs. On alates, the wings are located at the mesothorax and metathorax. Even the mesothorax and metathorax have well-developed exoskeletal plates; the prothorax has smaller plates. .
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Termites have a ten-segmented abdomen with 2 plates, the tergites and also the sternites. The tenth abdominal segment has a pair of short cerci.45 There are ten tergites, of which nine are broad and one is elongated. The reproductive organs are similar to those in cockroaches but are somewhat more simplified. For example, the intromittent organ is not present in male alates, and the semen is immotile or aflagellate.
The non-reproductive castes of thieves are wingless and rely exclusively on their six legs for locomotion. The alates fly only to get a brief amount of time, so that they also rely on their legs. The appearance of the legs is comparable in each and every caste, but the soldiers have larger and thicker legs.
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The number of tibial spurs on an individual's leg fluctuates. Some species of termite have an arolium, found between the claws, which can be present in species which scale on smooth site web surfaces but is absent in many termites.49.
Unlike in ants, the hind-wings and fore-wings are of equal length.2 Most of the time, the alates are poor stocks; their technique is to launch themselves in the air and fly in a random direction. Studies indicate that in comparison to larger termites, smaller vases cannot fly long distances. When a termite is in flight, its wings remain at a ideal angle, and when the termite is at rest, its wings remain parallel to your own body.51.
Worker termites undertake the most labor within the colony, being responsible for foraging, food storage, and brood and nest maintenance.53 Workers are tasked with the digestion of cellulose in meals and are thus the most likely caste to be found in infested timber. The process of worker termites feeding different nestmates is known as trophallaxis.
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Some termite species do not own a legitimate worker caste, instead relying on nymphs that perform the same job without differentiating as a distinct caste.53.