Time of year, diet, and pheromones all play a role in determining which developmental pathway any given termite follows. Workers comprise the bulk of the population. In lower termites there is a false worker caste called pseudergates who retain the potential to become alates. They also dig tunnels, locate food and water, maintain colony atmospheric homeostasis, and build and repair the nest. In some species their job description also includes mushroom gardening.
Soldiers develop from nymphs, pseudergates, or workers.
The metamorphosis to a soldier takes two moults. The transition stage is called a presoldier. With their specialized defensive weaponry, soldiers provide colony defence against numerous predators such as ants. Reproductives develop either from alates or neotenics. Alates are winged termites.