Worker termites do all the work while nymphs and soldiers have all the fun.
The workers must go on long journeys to find food and then bring back enough to feed hundreds and even thousands of termites by mouth!
They face predators like ants and human attackers.
The tunnel through hot and dry areas and sometimes die from dehydration.
They work around the clock and eventually die from old age within a couple of years.
And then humans have the audacity to use worker termites’ feeding and foraging instincts to kill the colony!
Worker Termites are Engineers and Nursemaids
One large log (or house) is never enough. Workers tunnel through the soil searching for multiple food sources to feed a growing termite colony.
They emit pheromones to track their routes and guide fellow workers to the new food source. When the construction crew face obstacles like brick or steel on their journey toward the wood, they simply erect mud tunnels over these barriers.
These tunnels help maintain the temperature and humidity and protect termites from ants, lizards, etc.
Workers must even feed those playing soldiers because large jaws prevent them from self-feeding.
Control Termites by Baiting the Workers
Workers are a willing but unintentional accomplice for do-it-yourselfer homeowners.
Who could blame them for choosing the bait to bring back to the nest? It is much easier for them to swallow compared to chewing off solid wood — and it is moist! The fun soon stops for the nymphs and, if there is any poetic justice, the soldiers are the last to die.
