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Termites are found on all continents except Antarctica. The diversity of termite species is reduced in North America and Europe (10 species known in Europe and 50 in North America), but is high in South America, where over 400 species have been known.34 Of the 3,000 termite species currently categorized, 1,000 are found in Africa, where mounds are extremely abundant in certain regions.
Due to their soft cuticles, termites do not inhabit cool or cold habitats.36 There are three environmental groups of termites: dampwood, drywood and subterranean. Dampwood termites are found only in coniferous woods, and drywood termites are found in hardwood forests; subterranean termites reside in widely diverse areas.34 One species in the drywood group is that the West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis), which can be an invasive species in Australia.37.
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Termites are usually small, measuring between 4 to 15 millimetres (0.16 to 0.59Â in) in length.34 The largest of all extant termites are the queens of the species Macrotermes bellicosus, measuring around over 10 centimetres (4Â in) in length.38 Another giant termite, the extinct Gyatermes styriensis, flourished in Austria during the Miocene and had a wingspan of 76 millimetres (3.0Â in) and a body length of 25 millimetres (0.98Â in).39note 1.
Most worker and soldier termites are blind as they do not own a set of eyes. But some species, like Hodotermes mossambicus, have compound eyes which they use for orientation and to distinguish sunlight from moonlight.40 The alates (winged males and females) have eyes along with lateral ocelli.
Termite antennae have a number of functions like the sensing of taste, touch, odours (including pheromones), heat and vibration. The three basic segments of a termite antenna include a scape, a pedicel (usually shorter than the scape), and the flagellum (all segments beyond the scape and pedicel). The mouth parts contain a maxillae, a labium, and a set of mandibles.
Consistent with all insects, the anatomy of the termite thorax consists of three segments: the prothorax, the mesothorax and the metathorax. Each segment contains a pair of legs. On alates, the wings are located at the mesothorax and metathorax. Even right here the mesothorax and metathorax have well-developed exoskeletal plates; the prothorax has smaller plates. .
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Termites have a ten-segmented abdomen using two plates, the tergites and also the sternites. The tenth abdominal segment has a set of short cerci.45 You can find ten tergites, of which nine are broad and one is elongated. The reproductive organs are much like those in cockroaches but are somewhat more simplified. For example, the intromittent organ is not present in penile alates, and the semen is like it immotile or aflagellate.
The non-reproductive castes of thieves are wingless and rely exclusively on their six legs for locomotion. The alates fly only to get a short amount of time, so that they also rely on their legs. The appearance of the legs is similar in each caste, but the soldiers have bigger and heavier legs.
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The number of tibial spurs on an individual's leg varies. Some species of termite have an arolium, located between the claws, which is present in species which scale on smooth surfaces but is absent in most termites.49.
Unlike in ants, the hind-wings and fore-wings are of equivalent length.2 the majority of the time, the alates are poor flyers; their technique is to launch themselves in the atmosphere and fly in a random direction. Studies indicate that in comparison to larger termites, smaller vases cannot fly long distances. When a termite is in flight, its wings remain in a right angle, and when the termite is at rest, its wings remain parallel to your own body.51.
Worker termites undertake the maximum labor within the colony, being responsible for foraging, food storage, and brood and nest maintenance.53 Workers are tasked with the digestion of cellulose in food and are consequently the most likely caste to be found in infested wood. The process of worker termites feeding other nestmates is known as trophallaxis.
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Some termite species do not own a true worker caste, instead relying on nymphs that perform the same work without differentiating as a separate caste.53.