termite: Quick Facts

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The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Sep. 25, 2026

Facts

Also Known As	white ant • Isoptera

Photos and Videos

Life cycle of the termite.

Queen termite (genus Macrotermes) surrounded by workers.

Termite castes.

A tall, irregularly shaped termite mound rises from grassy savanna with trees and a dramatic cloudy sky in the background in the Okavango region of Botswana.

Learn how termites use salivary secretions to cement debris to decaying wood nests in their rainforest habitat

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Topics

higher termite magnetic termite subterranean termite dry-wood termite bellicose termite Termopsinae Mastotermes darwiniensis Amitermes meridionalis Macrotermes natalensis entomophagy sucking louse heteropteran homopteran Hymenoptera Odonata louse thrips mayfly hornet gladiator bug

Key People

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Alfred Edwards Emerson

American zoologist

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Animal Group Names