Science Illustrated

One mound, one queen, one king

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Termites are known for their social structure that includes several castes with different tasks, and all individual­s are somehow involved in parental care. Some are born sterile, having lost the ability to reproduce so that they can concentrat­e on raising the queen’s offspring.

Termites live in mounds that they construct in wood or soil. These often very large colonies are built and maintained by workers, and are defended by soldiers. The workers and soldiers can be females or males, and all are wing-less and sterile. Only fertile males and the queen have wings.

The queen mates continuous­ly, but has only one partner, the king, which always remains in the colony with the queen.

 ??  ?? Termites have specific roles in the colony. Some are sterile, and all individual­s are very closely related.
Termites have specific roles in the colony. Some are sterile, and all individual­s are very closely related.

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