Why do termites shed their wings after a mating flight?

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Learn how termites use salivary secretions to cement debris to decaying wood nests in their rainforest habitat — termite A termite nest in a tropical rainforest.

Termites shed their wings shortly after landing from their mating flight because their primary purpose—dispersal—has been fulfilled.1

Once the winged adults, known as alates, have successfully traveled away from their original colony, the wings are no longer necessary for their survival or reproductive goals. After shedding their wings, the termites engage in courtship and seek a suitable nesting site, such as a crevice or a hole in wood or soil, to establish a new colony. By discarding their wings, the pair can more easily navigate these confined spaces to create their nuptial chamber, where they will eventually mate and begin the process of founding a new colony.1