# Termite — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Infraorder Isoptera within order Blattodea (cockroaches) — roughly 3,000 described species*

> Termites are eusocial cockroach relatives (Blattodea: Isoptera) that digest cellulose with symbiotic microbes or cultivated fungus; they build elaborate nests including ventilated mounds, and are ecologically vital decomposers though some species damage wooden buildings.

**IUCN status:** Not Evaluated as a group — eusocial detritivores; a few narrow-range species may be threatened  ·  **WARN range:** Tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, Temperate zones with limited native diversity

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Worker size | A few millimetres — soft-bodied, pale |
| Diet | Cellulose from wood and plant fibre |
| Habitat | Soil, wood, mounds and nests |
| Relation to ants | Not closely related — convergent eusociality |
| Relation to cockroaches | Same order (Blattodea) |
| Mound ventilation | Passive airflow in Macrotermes and allies |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Blattodea
- **Infraorder:** Isoptera
- **Families:** Termitidae, Rhinotermitidae, Macrotermitidae and others
- **Species:** Roughly 3,000 described

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Not Evaluated
- **Population:** Not applicable at group level
- **Trend:** Unknown for most species; habitat loss reduces decomposer capacity
- **Assessed:** Most species unassessed
- **CITES:** Not listed
- Termites are rarely conservation priorities despite ecological importance. Narrow-range species may decline with forest loss without Red List entries.

## Key facts: Termite
- Termites are cockroach relatives (Blattodea), not ants — eusociality evolved independently.
- Colonies contain kings, queens, workers and soldiers; reproductives may live many years.
- Most species recycle dead wood and plant fibre in ecosystems; a minority attack buildings.
- Macrotermes and related genera cultivate fungus gardens inside mounds with passive ventilation.
- Ant versus termite identification: termites have straight antennae and a broad waist; ants have elbowed antennae and a narrow waist.
- Control of structural pests should target the colony, not individual insects seen indoors.

## Why termites are not ants
Ants belong to Hymenoptera with elbowed antennae, a constricted waist and complete metamorphosis. Termites have straight bead-like antennae, a broad connection between thorax and abdomen, and gradual moulting without a pupal stage. Winged reproductives shed their wings after mating flights — the discarded wings on windowsills are a common sign of indoor swarmers.

Genetically, termites nest within cockroaches. That reclassification matters for understanding evolution: eusociality — overlapping generations, cooperative brood care and reproductive castes — arose at least twice here independently of ants, bees and wasps. Convergent solutions produced similar mound cities from unrelated starting material.

## Digesting wood — symbionts and fungus gardens
Cellulose and lignin in wood are locked behind bonds most animals cannot break. Lower termites harbour flagellate protists or bacteria in the hindgut that ferment fibre. Macrotermes and related higher termites go further: workers cultivate Termitomyces fungus on chewed plant material inside the nest, and the colony eats the fungus, not the raw cellulose directly.

That division of labour lets termites process enormous volumes of dead wood in tropical forests. Without them, fallen timber would choke ecosystems. The same capacity makes them structural pests when the wood is a house frame rather than a log on the forest floor.

## Mounds and passive ventilation
Macrotermes bellicosus mounds in Africa can stand more than 3 m tall — cathedrals of clay and saliva-built material enclosing fungus combs. Internal architecture creates convection: heat and metabolic gases rise through central chimneys, drawing fresh air through peripheral passages. The mound breathes without moving parts.

Architects have studied the geometry for passive cooling in human buildings. The biological point is thermoregulation and gas exchange for a colony of millions consuming fermenting material. Mound shape varies by species and soil — some build epigeal mounds, others nest entirely below ground — but the engineering problem is universal: keep fungus gardens within tolerable temperature and oxygen limits.

## Pest species versus ecological majority
Only a fraction of termite species eat sound dry timber in buildings. Many require damp decaying wood or live entirely in soil and dead logs. Swarming reproductives indoors do not prove an active structural infestation — they may have entered from outside — but persistent mud tubes on foundations or hollow-sounding timbers warrant professional inspection.

Ecologically, termites are keystone decomposers and soil engineers. Their tunnels aerate ground; their processing releases nutrients. Local extinctions are rarely reported because most species are unassessed, but habitat conversion removes the same litter-processing capacity that forests depend on.

## What WARN does
WARN publishes free insect education that corrects high-traffic confusion — termite versus ant is among the most economically consequential misidentifications in temperate housing markets, and the ecological story is separate from the pest-control story.

If this guide helps you understand wildlife and the pressures it faces, a gift to WARN supports habitat protection and free public education in our partner countries.

## Frequently asked questions: Termite
### What do termites eat?
Termites eat cellulose from wood, leaf litter, grass and other plant material, digested with gut symbionts or cultivated fungus depending on the species. Pest species consume timber in buildings; most wild species recycle dead wood in ecosystems.

### Where do termites live?
Mainly tropical and subtropical regions, in soil, dead wood, mounds or arboreal nests. Some species extend into temperate zones. Colonies may contain thousands to millions of individuals in interconnected tunnels and chambers.

### Are termites dangerous to humans?
Termites do not sting or bite people in any medically significant way. The harm they cause is economic — structural damage to wooden buildings — not venom. Soldier mandibles can pinch if handled.

### How long do termites live?
Workers and soldiers live one to several years in many species. Queens of some species may live decades, producing eggs continuously. Exact figures vary by species and are documented mainly for pest species.

### How big are termites?
Workers are typically a few millimetres long — soft-bodied and pale. Soldiers may have enlarged heads and jaws. Winged reproductives are larger and dark; kings and queens grow substantially in long-established colonies.

### How do termites differ from ants?
Termites have straight antennae and a broad waist; ants have elbowed antennae and a pinched waist. Termites are cockroach relatives; ants are related to bees and wasps. Winged termites shed wings after swarming.

## Sources
- [Encyclopaedia of Life — Blattodea / termites](https://eol.org/pages/901)
- [IUCN Red List](https://www.iucnredlist.org/)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/termite