How long does the Queen of termites live?
25 to 50 years
A queen termite has a long lifespan and is typically the oldest termite in the colony. Termite queens can live 25 to 50 years, with peak egg production for up to 10 years. When the queen dies and the pheromone she uses to block reproductives’ development is no longer produced, a new queen will develop in the colony.
Do termites survive without a queen?
Yes, termites can live without a queen. When a queen or king dies, worker termites can develop into reproductive females or males without going through the winged stage. They are referred to as secondary reproductives.
Can termite queens move?
She has tiny legs and little stumps of wings and can’t move.
What is the lifespan of a termite?
Lifespan. Workers and soldiers live approximately one to two years. Queen termites may survive for over a decade under optimal climate conditions.
How do termite queens live so long?
An efficient antioxidant system as a longevity assurance mechanism may explain why termite queens enjoy long lifespans. If mutations causing oxidative stress-induced DNA damage are not eliminated from the germline, they may pass to the offspring, reducing their fitness.
How long can a termite live without water?
Termites can live only a few days without water, and only two weeks without food.
How many termites are in a queen colony?
Reproductives. The primary reproductives in a termite colony are usually one royal pair, a king and queen.
How many eggs does a queen termite lay in a day?
30,000 eggs
A termite queen will produce one egg every three seconds, averaging about 30,000 eggs PER DAY. That’s 10,950,000 eggs per year. And when you take into account the fact that a termite queen will often live till she’s 20 years old, that means 219,000,000 eggs, just from one single little insect.
What does a termite queen eat?
Do termite queens eat wood? A termite queen is fed by her workers. Worker termites venture outside of the colony and feed on wood, turning the wood into cellulose. This cellulose is brought back to the colony to feed the queen.
Why Do queen termites live so long?
Why do termites have kings?
Termite colonies have a queen and king. Next to the queen, the king is the most important member of the colony when it comes to keeping the colony well populated. These pests lead protected lives below ground, mating with the queen and releasing chemicals that control many different aspects of the colony.