That is when they are collected as food, sometimes even by school children in the United States. Many cicadas have shorter life cycles, and some of them were collected as food by Indian tribes in what is now the western United States. They are eaten regularly in many other countries, especially in Asia, and some are very large. Termites are most widely used as food in Africa. They are social insects with colonies divided into castes that include workers, soldiers, winged adults and a queen.
Metamorphosis is incomplete.
Colonies of some species build huge earthen mounds, called termitaria, which may be up to 20 feet high. Periodically, the winged adults emerge in huge swarms, mate while in flight, and then start new colonies. They are highly attracted to lights, even candlelight, and that is one way they are captured for use as food. The wings are broken off, and, fried, termites are delicious. Even Europeans eat them in Africa.