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Termites are found on all continents except Antarctica. The diversity of termite species is reduced in North America and Europe (10 species known in Europe and 50 in North America), but is high in South America, in which over 400 species are known.34 Of the 3,000 termite species currently classified, 1,000 are found in Africa, where mounds are extremely abundant in certain regions.
Due to their soft cuticles, termites do not inhabit cold or cool habitats.36 There are three ecological forms of termites: dampwood, drywood and subterranean. Dampwood termites are found only in coniferous woods, and drywood termites are found in hardwood forests; subterranean termites live in widely diverse regions.34 One species in the drywood category is that the West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis), which can be an invasive species in Australia.37.
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Termites are usually small, measuring between 4 to 15 millimetres (0.16 to 0.59Â in) in length.34 The largest of all extant termites would be the queens of those species Macrotermes bellicosus, measuring up to over 10 centimetres (4Â in) in length.38 Another giant termite, the extinct Gyatermes styriensis, flourished in Austria during the Miocene and had a wingspan of 76 millimetres (3.0Â in) and a body length of 25 millimetres (0.98Â in).39note 1.
Most worker and soldier termites are completely blind as they do not have a pair of eyes. However, some species, like Hodotermes mossambicus, have compound eyes that they use for orientation and to distinguish sunlight from moonlight.40 The alates (winged males and females) have eyes along with lateral ocelli.
Termite antennae have a number of functions such as the sensing of touch, taste, other odours (including pheromones), heat and vibration. The three basic segments of a termite antenna include a scape, a pedicel (usually shorter than the scape), and the flagellum (all segments beyond the scape and pedicel). The mouth parts contain a maxillae, a labium, and a pair of mandibles.
Consistent with insects, the anatomy of this termite thorax consists of 3 segments: the prothorax, the mesothorax and the metathorax. Each segment contains a set of legs. On alates, the wings are located at the mesothorax and metathorax. Even the mesothorax and metathorax have well-developed exoskeletal plates; the prothorax has smaller plates. .
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Termites have a ten-segmented abdomen using 2 plates, the tergites and the sternites. The tenth abdominal segment has a pair of short cerci.45 There are ten tergites, of which nine are wide and one is elongated. The reproductive organs are similar to those in cockroaches but are more simplified. For example, the intromittent organ is not present in male alates, and the sperm is immotile or aflagellate.
The non-reproductive castes of termites are wingless and rely solely on their six legs for locomotion. The alates fly only for a brief amount of time, and therefore that they also rely on their legs. The appearance of the legs is comparable in each and every caste, but the soldiers have larger and heavier legs.
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The number of tibial spurs on an individual's leg varies. Some species of termite have an arolium, found between the claws, which is present in species which climb on smooth surfaces but is absent in most termites.49.
Unlike in ants, the hind-wings and fore-wings are of equivalent length.2 Most of the time, the alates are poor stocks; their technique is to launch themselves in the air and fly in a random direction. Studies show that in comparison to larger termites, smaller vases cannot fly long distances. When a termite is in flight, its wings remain at a right angle, and when the termite is at rest, its wings remain parallel to the body.51.
Worker termites undertake the most labour within the colony, being responsible for foraging, food storage, and brood and nest maintenance.53 Workers are tasked with the digestion of cellulose in food and are consequently the most likely caste to be found in infested timber. The process of worker termites feeding different nestmates is popularly known as trophallaxis.
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Some termite species do not own a legitimate worker caste, instead relying on nymphs that do the exact same job without differentiating as a distinct caste.53.