Termites

Termites, incorrectly called white ants, belong to the order Isoptera, insects with incomplete metamorphosis. They are characteristic of the tropics; in the USSR, they are found in Central Asia and the Caucasus. They are "social" insects, that is, they live in large colonies, remarkable for the polymorphism of the individuals composing them. Termites construct complex dwellings, erecting an above-ground structure (the so-called termite mound) or, conversely, burrowing into the ground, deeply mining it with numerous passages. In each termite nest, there is one female and one male; besides this pair of producers, the termite colony includes a multitude of wingless individuals—"workers" and "soldiers," which are underdeveloped males and females. The reproduction of termites is linked to the appearance of winged sexual individuals. They leave the nest and swarm. Upon completion of swarming, the males and females descend to the ground, whereupon their wings fall off. The male and female together begin to dig into the ground, build a nest in this way, and establish a new colony (G. Jacobson). The polymorphism of the colony's individuals concerns their external and internal structure, as well as the role they play in the life of the colony. In the female, the abdomen swells to extraordinary dimensions, and the sexual production is enormous (it is claimed that she can lay over 80,000 eggs per day); "soldiers" have a large quadrangular head and strong jaws; they protect the nest from attack; the head of the "workers" is small and rounded. "Workers" build the nest, dig passages, obtain food, feed the larvae, ensure the life of the female, etc. Some termites have so-called nasutes, which are "soldiers" whose head is elongated in length; at its pointed end opens a gland that produces a sticky secretion of defensive significance. Termite mounds are constructed above ground; in some species, they reach a height of several meters. The termites of our fauna do not build above-ground structures, if one does not count small mounds, but their passages go several meters deep (up to 15; Dimo). In Central Asia, there are: the Turkestan termite (Hodotermos turkestanicus), the medium Trans-Caspian (H. vagans), the large Trans-Caspian (H. angerianus), the Murgab termite (H. murgabicus), and the Beckman termite (H. baecmanianus). On the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus lives Calotermes flavicollis, and in the Odessa region—Leucotermes lucifugus. Termites feed on dead wood (in artifacts and in nature) and various plant products, for example, they eat out the straw mixed into clay during the construction of adobe buildings. They get into houses, destroy beams, rafters, furniture, and damage books, linens, clothing, etc. Their economic damage is great. Termites in Central Asia can influence the water factor due to the enormous absorption of water by the nest's passages in the soil if an irrigation canal is routed through the nest. Due to their soil activity, termites contribute to the formation of secondary solonchaks at termite mounds. The control of termites is difficult. Wood intended for construction is impregnated with coal tar products (carbolineum), petroleum residues, etc. Carbolineum is used for coating wooden and brick parts of a structure. Zinc chloride is also suitable for impregnating wood, which, however, requires factory equipment. To destroy termites that have penetrated a building, chloropicrin can be used.