termite

Images & Videos

Learn how termites use salivary secretions to cement debris to decaying wood nests in their rainforest habitat

Life cycle of the termite.

Queen termite (genus Macrotermes) surrounded by workers.

Termite castes.

For Students

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termite summary

termite: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	white ant • Isoptera

Photos and Videos

Life cycle of the termite.

Queen termite (genus Macrotermes) surrounded by workers.

Termite castes.

Learn how termites use salivary secretions to cement debris to decaying wood nests in their rainforest habitat

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Topics

higher termite dry-wood termite subterranean termite Termopsinae Mastotermes darwiniensis Macrotermes natalensis Amitermes meridionalis entomophagy eusocial species Exopterygota sucking louse heteropteran homopteran Hymenoptera Odonata louse thrips mayfly hornet gladiator bug

Key People

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Alfred Edwards Emerson

American zoologist

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

wasp. Vespid Wasp (Vespidaea) with antennas and compound eyes drink nectar from a cherry. Hornets largest eusocial wasps, stinging insect in the order Hymenoptera, related to bees. Pollination

Know Your Bugs Quiz

Lion (panthera leo)

Deadliest Animals Quiz

vulture. An adult bearded vulture at a raptor recovery center. The Gypaetus barbatus also known as the Lammergeier or Lammergeyer, is a bird of prey and considered an Old World vulture.

Animal Factoids

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz