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Why does a termite queenâs abdomen grow much larger as the colony matures?
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termite
A termite nest in a tropical rainforest.
As a termite colony matures, the queenâs abdomen undergoes a process known as physogastry. This enlargement occurs because her ovaries and fat bodies develop significantly to support a massive increase in her egg-laying capacity.1
In advanced termite families, such as the Termitidae, this transformation allows the queen to become an "egg-laying machine," capable of producing as many as 36,000 eggs per day. As the colony grows and becomes established, the queen's primary role shifts entirely to reproduction, supported by the worker caste that takes over tasks like nest maintenance and the care of the young.12