1. The termites may be wood dwelling or subterranean. They form nests which consist of numberless chambers and galleries having moderately hard walls.The wood dwelling species excavate galleries in the logs, planks, door frames,furniture and piles of books. The ground dwelling species form nest or termitarium. They feed on cellulose.
2. They are found throughout temperate and tropical countries. They have cosmopolitan distribution.
3. Commonly called as Queen termite. Body divided into head, thorax and abdomen.
4. Head contains paired compound eyes, paired antennae and a pair of small maxillary palp.
5. Thorax divisible into prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax. Tergum of prothorax (pronotum) does not cover head.
6. Thorax contains a pair of short reduced wing stubs and 3 pairs of legs.
7. Head and thorax comparatively shorter while abdomen is much elongated and swollen for accommodating large number of eggs. Last abdominal segment contains a pair of anal cerci.
8. Mouth parts are of biting type.
Source:
1. Practical Zoology Invertebrates by S.S.Lal. 2. A Manual of Practical Zoology Chordates by Dr. P.S. Verma.
