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Aug. 5, 2009 02:07 PM

Grooming is an important behavior for insects. It keeps them clean by removing dirt, fungi and other harmful microorganisms from their bodies. For most insects, such as cockroaches and house flies, grooming is strictly do-it-yourself.

For social insects, such as termites, it's cooperative - workers groom other workers, workers groom soldiers and workers groom the reproductives (including the queen). Grooming is done with the mandibles, basically by gently "chewing" over the body surface of a nestmate. Sometimes, however, it is a little more enthusiastic than gentle (probably the rookies), and body parts get bitten off! So, life in the colony can be a little difficult for the average worker, depending on who groomed you last. Workers may be missing parts of their antennae (easy to nibble off), a leg or part of a wing pad.

 

 

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termite swarmers

I live in the Virgin Islands. It is autumn and we've had a lot of rain, and relatively calm winds. I looked out on my back porch and saw that it was covered with small dry leaves. On further inspection I learned that the leaves were wings. A few of the insects, still dressed in their wings, were wandering about--I presume, amorously. I inspected a living specimen and, comparing it to your forum photo of a winged termite, I thought, Yep, it's a termite. I was panicked at first, thinking that my house would soon turn into a pile of wood dust. However, the termite forum told me that I was watching the process of termite true love, not gluttony. After lovemaking, though, often comes ravenous hunger, so I'm looking nervously at the still-intact wooden structures inside my home. Thank you, though, Termite Forum, for helping me not to completely freak out!

Susan Chaplin
2009-09-08 09:12 AM