Body Structure

Termites have soft, pale bodies with straight antennae, six legs and powerful jaws adapted for chewing cellulose. Unlike ants, termites have a broad waist and equal-sized wings during their reproductive stage.

Colony Structure

Queen: Responsible for egg production.

King: Remains with the queen throughout her life and continues to fertilise eggs.

Workers: Build tunnels, feed the colony, care for young and gather food.

Soldiers: Defend the colony against predators such as ants.

Alates (Winged Reproductives): Leave the colony during swarming season to establish new colonies.

Life Cycle

Termites develop through incomplete metamorphosis. Young termites hatch as nymphs and gradually develop into workers, soldiers or reproductive adults depending on the colony’s needs.

Reproduction: Mature colonies produce winged reproductives (alates) that swarm, mate and establish new colonies.

Growth & Lifespan: Workers generally live for one to several years, while queens may survive for many years under favourable conditions.

Behaviour: Termites avoid light and remain hidden inside wood, soil or mud tubes, making infestations difficult to detect during their early stages.

Habitat: Most structural termites live underground or inside timber where moisture and cellulose are readily available.

Diet: Termites feed primarily on cellulose found in wood, paper, cardboard and other plant-based materials.

Homes provide an abundant source of cellulose in the form of structural timber, wooden furniture, paper products and other building materials. Moisture, wood-to-soil contact and concealed entry points further increase the likelihood of termite activity, particularly for subterranean species.

In nature, termites are preyed upon by ants, birds, spiders, reptiles and certain mammals. However, once established inside buildings, they are largely protected from these natural predators.

Termites can damage structural timber, furniture, wooden flooring, doors, window frames, books, paper records and other cellulose-based materials. Because they usually feed from within, significant damage may occur before any visible signs appear.

For homeowners and businesses alike, termite infestations can result in costly repairs and long-term structural deterioration if left unmanaged.

Mud Tubes: Pencil-sized mud tunnels on walls, foundations or other surfaces are commonly built by subterranean termites to travel while remaining protected.

Damaged Wood: Timber may appear hollow, blistered or weakened despite an intact outer surface.

Discarded Wings: Piles of identical wings near windows, doors or light sources often indicate that winged termites have recently swarmed.

Frass: Drywood termites produce small, pellet-shaped droppings that may accumulate beneath infested timber.

Swarming Termites: Winged termites emerging indoors or around buildings may indicate the presence of a mature colony.

Sticking Doors or Windows: Termite damage and moisture can sometimes cause wooden doors or window frames to become difficult to open or close.

Termite activity generally increases during warm and humid conditions. In many parts of India, winged reproductives emerge following rainfall, particularly at the onset of the monsoon, when conditions are favourable for establishing new colonies.

In Arunachal Pradesh, this plays out differently depending on the caste. Subterranean termites remain active below ground more or less year-round, largely insulated from surface weather — it’s the winged reproductives that respond directly to rainfall, with swarming most commonly observed during and shortly after heavy rain, when the region’s extended monsoon provides the soil moisture new colonies need to establish.