Sometimes called white ants, but they are not ants which are in the order Hymenoptera, and differ in numerous ways. Four wings of about equal size in flying adult, relatively soft bodied , often white or brownish white , waist rather broadly joined to the thorax , antennae are filiform. They feed on wood, grass and other cellulose containing material. They are unable to digest the cellulose themselves, so have a colony of protozoan s in their hindgut which breaks down the cellulose. This protozoan colony is shed at each molt , and must be re-obtained.
Termites have a caste system .
The workers are the immatures, and the rest of the adults, which are prevented by pheromones from ever becoming reproductively mature . There may also be a soldier caste. The primaries are the founders of the colony and may live for many years - up to 10 has been recorded. Large numbers of winged reproductives also produced each year, but these leave the nest and form a new colony. Have pigmented and sclerotized head.