Termites are small soft bodied insects,
which many people call "white ants",
however, though they look similar, they are not related. There are many
different termite species in Malaysia, some are important recyclers
of dead and decaying timber, others feed on grasses, only a few cause
economic damage.
These species are subterranean, they
constantly forage and evaluate the size and quality of food resources as
they seek out cellulose, the primary component of wood.
Termites live and work together in large
groups known as colonies. They are divided into various groups known as
castes; the Queen, king, soldiers, workers and alates.
The Queen is the reproductive source of the
colony; she ensures replenishment and further growth of the colony.
The workers, which are the predominant
caste, are the providers to the colony, they constantly forage for
food and moisture, they are responsible for the damage caused to
timber and cellulose based materials.
The soldiers defend the colony and are
usually the source of identification for professional pest controller,
when trying to determine the specific species and assess the risk
factor when termites are encountered.
The alates are the winged termites (future
kings and queens), which are released at appropriate times to establish
new colonies.
