Insect Order Isoptera - termites
Termites are well known both for their
destruction of human property and for their construction of huge mounds
or 'termitaria' which allow them to have a great degree of control over
the temperature and humidity of the environment they live in. They are
common in the tropics and occur in most warm habitats as well. They are
often called 'white ants' because the majority of them are white and small
and live in large colonies much like ants. They are not actually closely
related to the ants at all but are closely related to the Cockroaches.
The alate forms (winged primary reproductives)
have four almost equal wings and compound eyes; however the sterile workers
and the secondary reproductives have no or greatly reduced compound eyes
some forms have two ocelli.