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Order Isoptera Termites are social insects that live in colonies that have morphologically distinct caste members. The primary reproductives, the king and queen, develop from winged reproductives that are produced seasonally. After leaving the colony in a swarm, they shed their wings and individual pairs establish new colonies. The worker and soldier castes are made up of sterile, wingless, and usually blind males and females. The workers are soft-bodied and usually pale white in color and have chewing mouthparts. The soldiers defend the colony with either large powerful mandibles adapted for slicing predators. Other soldiers (nasutes) have heads that have been modified to eject a sticky substance onto intruders. |
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