TERMITE COLONY BIOLOGY
Termite colonies are organised into castes with specialised roles. Australian Museum and CSIRO material describe colonies containing reproductive termites, workers and soldiers. The proportions and developmental pathways can vary between species, but the basic division of labour helps the colony feed, grow, reproduce and defend itself.
Workers gather food, feed and tend the young and reproductive castes, and build or maintain nest material and galleries. Their thin, pale bodies are vulnerable to drying out, so they usually remain within protected humid environments.
Soldiers protect the colony and its galleries from predators and disturbance. Soldier head shape, jaws or other defensive structures can also be useful during termite identification.
The primary queen is a reproductive female and can become specialised for sustained egg production as an established colony grows.
The king is the queen's reproductive partner. In the early founding stage, the king and queen care for the first young before a worker force develops.
Winged male and female reproductives are produced by established colonies and can leave during suitable conditions to attempt to form new colonies.
Termites undergo incomplete metamorphosis. Eggs hatch into nymphs that moult through developmental stages before differentiating into colony roles.
Workers are often the individuals seen inside damaged timber or workings, while soldiers can provide useful diagnostic features. Winged reproductives or piles of shed wings can indicate a reproductive flight, but they do not by themselves locate the parent colony or prove that a building is structurally infested.
The practical interpretation should combine the termites present with construction, moisture, access, visible workings, timber condition and other site evidence.
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