Page 20 - The Miracle of Termites

Harun Yahya

The differences between the various stages
and classes of termites:
1. Larva
2. Worker
3. Soldier
4. Nymph
5. Supplementary reproductive
6. Winged reproductive

ferent appearances, because each nest is divided into four castes:

The king and queen: The queen has a different appearance from
other members of the colony and she is very important for all of them.
The growth of the colony depends on the queen.
Alates or swarmers: These termites have wings; they are the al-
ates that will later fly off to mate. When they actually become kings
and queens, they will lose their wings.

Workers: With their wings and strong jaws, workers form the
largest number of termites. Their duties in the colony are to build the
nest, find food and tend to the general order of the nest.
Soldiers: Smaller in numbers are the soldiers, whose only duty is
to protect the nest.
According to the type of termite, the soldiers have different qual-
ities; some soldiers in some species have a proboscis that secretes a
sticky liquid useful in escaping aggressors. Other soldiers have big

heads and large jaws; they attack everything that tries to get into the
nest.

18 THE MIRACLE OF TERMITES