Imagine tens of thousands of conehead termites swarming in the Panamanian air, each one embarking on the only flight of their lifetime. This spectacle is not for the faint-hearted, as these termites face numerous threats during their journey. Despite the dangers, these determined creatures are driven by a powerful instinct to reproduce and ensure the survival of their species.
Each termite bravely navigates through a barrage of predators, lands safely, and sheds its wings. They then secrete pheromones to attract a mate. Once paired, the couple quickly retreats into the safety of a rotting tree stump, their first home. But they are not alone. Unlike most termite species, conehead termite colonies can house multiple queens and kings, and our pair is soon joined by other termites ready to reproduce.
Working together, they excavate a chamber in the stump, seal the entrance, and start their family. The offspring that hatch bear little resemblance to their parents. They are smaller, wingless, eyeless, and sterile. Some of them, the soldiers, possess the species’ trademark conspicuously shaped heads. These soldiers set out to scout for dead wood, laying pheromone trails for the rest of the offspring, the colony’s workers, to follow and reinforce as they retrieve food.
As termites collect and decompose plant debris, they return essential nutrients to the soil, promoting the growth of more vegetation. Gradually, worker termites expand the colony’s central chamber as they groom and feed the royals and the upcoming broods. The tiniest termites can’t yet eat wood independently, so the workers process it and gift it to the youngsters through their saliva and by regurgitating it into their mouths.
With the workers managing groceries, construction, and childcare, the royals fully commit themselves to reproduction. The kings provide sperm on an as-needed basis, and the queens undergo radical transformations. Their abdomens develop efficient egg-laying machinery and extend dramatically. Each queen may produce hundreds of eggs a day. Meanwhile, a worker entourage retrieves and neatly stacks them into piles.
The colony grows quickly. Once its population is big enough, workers construct a system of tunnels stretching over 100 meters across the terrain, along fallen logs, and up into tree crowns. These tunnels shelter the termites as they travel to and from food sites around the clock. Eventually, they build a distinctive central nest using partially digested plant material, soil, and poop. They construct a massive egg-shaped structure, complete with numerous passages, chambers, and ventilation holes.
Deep within, they establish a royal cell that’s fortified with extra thick walls. But this architectural marvel attracts admirers, like an anteater. The termite soldiers launch a counterattack. They’re tiny and blind, but their heads function like squirt guns. They secure the anteater’s position using chemical signals, clench their powerful muscles, and shoot a sticky spray from their heads. The nest sustains some damage, but the royals remain undisturbed, pumping out eggs into their reinforced fortress.
As the colony matures, some of the young develop into reproductives. Most fly off to establish new colonies, while some saunter to nearby sites and become the monarchs of the colony’s satellite nests. With one of the longest insect lifespans, a termite queen’s reign can last more than 20 years. The original queens and kings eventually die, but by the time they go, several satellite nests are already thriving. Their reproductive offspring inherit the throne, meaning that their colony may persist for decades to come.
Draw and label the different stages of the conehead termite’s life cycle. Use arrows to show the progression from one stage to the next. Include details such as the flight, mating, colony building, and the roles of different termites within the colony.
In groups, act out the roles of different termites in the colony. Assign roles such as queen, king, worker, and soldier. Create a short skit that demonstrates how each type of termite contributes to the colony’s survival and growth.
Using materials like clay, cardboard, and sticks, construct a model of a termite nest. Include features such as the central chamber, tunnels, and the royal cell. Explain how each part of the nest helps protect and support the colony.
Research and present how conehead termites contribute to their ecosystem. Create a poster or a digital presentation that shows how they decompose plant material, return nutrients to the soil, and support plant growth.
Design a board game where players must defend a termite colony from predators like anteaters. Include challenges that require players to use the termite soldiers’ unique defense mechanisms. The goal is to keep the royal cell safe while maintaining the colony.
conehead termites – Termites belonging to the Nasutitermitinae subfamily, characterized by their cone-shaped heads. – The conehead termites are known for their aggressive behavior and destructive feeding habits.
flight – The process of an organism moving through the air using wings or other mechanisms. – Birds have the ability to fly, allowing them to soar through the sky.
predators – Animals that hunt, kill, and consume other animals. – Lions are apex predators that feed on a variety of prey in the African savannah.
wings – The specialized appendages of birds, insects, and some mammals that enable them to fly. – The butterfly gracefully fluttered its vibrant wings as it floated from flower to flower.
pheromones – Chemical substances secreted by animals to communicate with others of the same species. – Ants use pheromones to mark trails and signal danger to other members of the colony.
reproduce – The biological process of producing offspring. – Frogs reproduce by laying eggs in water, which later hatch into tadpoles.
colony – A group of organisms, such as ants or bees, living together in a cooperative and organized manner. – The ant colony worked collectively to gather food and defend their territory.
soldiers – Specialized individuals within a social insect colony that have specific roles in defense and protection. – The termite soldiers have large mandibles and are responsible for defending the colony against intruders.
workers – Individuals within a social insect colony that perform various tasks, such as foraging, nest construction, and caring for the young. – The worker bees tirelessly collected nectar and pollen to support the hive’s needs.
ecosystem – A community of living organisms and their interactions with their environment. – The coral reef ecosystem is home to a diverse array of species, including fish, corals, and sponges.
