Termites are insects that are well-known as pests; however, people do not know much about them. In this article, we will discuss some of the facts about these rapidly growing insects that will certainly blow your mind. Knowing more about these pests may be of use to you when trying to prevent them from populating in your house. Hence, this compiled list of interesting facts is a must-read!
The termite population on earth exceeds that of humans
While this is true, it is not entirely surprising. These creatures reproduce more rapidly than humans, and their lifespan is considerably high. The average lifespan of the termite queen is 25 years. Moreover, a single termite queen can lay about 30,000 eggs in a single day. With its high reproduction rate, a single mount of a termite colony can house millions of these creatures at any given time. The average numbers reported differ across various studies, but one fact that scientists seem to agree upon is that the biomass of these creatures approximates that of humans.
28 out of 2800 species of termites are pests
There are about 2800 named species of termites. Of these known species, only about 28 species are known to commonly infest homes. The majority of them would not cause any damage to your property because they inhabit natural areas in the ecosystem. Termites in nature collectively clear dead material and aerate the soil, and as a result, they facilitate the healthy growth of plants. Research has also found that colonisation by termites can help ecosystems such as the savannah because the tunnels created by these termites store moisture and nutrients. Unfortunately, certain termite species find their ways into people’s homes, which result in damages to home structures and furniture instead.
Termites organise themselves in working hierarchies
You might be astounded when you find out how organised these tiny creatures are. This is why it is critical to practice proper termite control in cases of an infestation to effectively eradicate them. Their colonies are organised in such a way that there is a queen, a king, and the rest are workers and soldiers with different roles. The territory is controlled by the pheromones secreted by the queen. The queens are usually much larger than the rest of the colony members and are known to grow up to 4 inches long. The royal members (kings and queens) have wings which they shed off when they start colonies. The majority of the workers and soldiers, on the other hand, do not have wings or eyes.
Termites are some of the fastest animals
Some termite species in Panama have been recorded to be able to snap their mandibles at incredible speeds of up to 252 kilometres per hour. To comprehend how fast this is, cheetahs – widely known as the fastest animal in the world – can run at speeds of 122 kilometres per hour. The lighting fast speeds of termites closing of their mandibles allows them chomp on their food source at astounding rates.
Conclusion
Keeping in mind the destruction termite infections can cause, effective pest control strategies are vital in combating any further damage to your property.