Morris Pest Control Inc.

A Termite Overview

A. The Queen occupies a "royal cell" with the King. She may live up to 25 years, laying many thousands of eggs annually.

B. Supplementary Reproductive's act as replacements for the Queen if she should die. They may also produce eggs even if the Queen is healthy to help increase colony size.

C. Eggs are cared for by workers during a two-week incubation period before passing into the nymph stage.

D. Winged Reproductive's are the termites you may see when they "swarm," usually in the spring, signaling a well-developed colony. After shedding their wings, reproductive's pair off, burrow into the soil and begin a new colony.

E. Soldiers, with armored heads and strong jaws, protect the colony from enemies, most commonly ants.

F. Workers represent most of the termites in the colony. Blind and sterile, they forage for the colony's food. Most damage is caused by worker termites.