Worker Termites Build “Castles” For Swarming Termites
Worker Termites Build “Castles” For Swarming Termites
In the United States there exists three primary types of native and non-native termites. The different types include drywood termites, dampwood termites, and subterranean termites. Subterranean termites are the most well known to Americans. The two most abundant subterranean termites that dwell within the US are eastern subterranean termites, and Formosan subterranean termites. Although Formosan termites are uniquely destructive, subterranean termites are far more abundant. All termite species have a small group of flying reproductive termites that are responsible for establishing new colonies after old colonies die-out. This group of airborne termites are referred to as “alates”. Subterranean termites are known for constructing mud tubes that are specifically built for alates. These mud tubes protrude from the ground like most subterranean termite mud tubes. But alate mud tubes are much larger and are often referred to as “swarming castles”.
During termite swarming season, or when termite colonies are no longer able to survive, alates will leave a dying colony in order to create a new colony elsewhere. Although alates are responsible for establishing future colonies as queens, alates are quite fragile and easily injured. This can be a problem for subterranean termite colonies. These termites dwell beneath the ground and they travel through narrow tunnels and mud tubes. The typical tunnels and mud tubes that are built by subterranean workers are not thick enough to allow alates to escape. Alates are well known for becoming easily injured. Sometimes alates lose their wings when traveling through tight tunnels. Therefore, subterranean workers are forced to build much wider tunnels and wider mud tubes in order to allow alates to swarm out of the underground colony.
These tunnels end in mud tubes that protrude from the ground. The numerous and tightly packed mud tubes can become four feet wide. The appearance of these specially built mud tubes often resemble castles, hence the name “swarming castles”. Shortly before alates begin swarming they are herded by workers to pre-flight areas that are located below the swarming castles. Workers always remove debris from these areas as alates can become injured even by minute forms of debris. Once alates begin swarming their fragility often results in death. Despite mass deaths, swarms contain more than enough alates to establish several more colonies. Once alates escape through swarming castles, the castles become abandoned and workers travel back to the primary nesting site below the ground. Surprisingly, these castles are often found behind drywall in some people’s homes.
Have you ever spotted a termite castle either indoors or outdoors?