SS3 Second Term Biology Lesson Note – Social Insects

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WEEK 5

SOCIAL INSECTS: are specialized group of insects of the same species which live together cooperatively in organized community known as colonies.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL INSECT/ANIMALS

1. They live together in colony
2. They show or display division of labour
3. They show distinct castes
4. Members communicate with one another within the colonies.

CASTES OF TERMITES

Termites are usually found living together in large communities in nest which may be in tunnels in dead wood, chamber under the ground or anthill, or termitarium or termiteria.

All the various individuals in termite colony are grouped into three castes as follow the reproductive are of three types. The reproductive are fertile and are able to reproduce. These are the (a) king (b) queen (c) and long winged reproductive.

The king

• The king is a reproductive individual that is fertile
• It has no wing
• It is smaller than the queen
• The function or the king is to mate or fertilize the egg of the queen

QUEEN

• The queen is a reproductive female individual.
• It has a small head and small thorax with very big abdomen
• The abdomen is large and swollen with eggs
• There is usually only a queen at a time in a colony
• The queen is the largest of all the castes
• The function of the queen is a lay egg the long winged reproductive
• They have wings
• They are fertile i.e., able to reproduce
• They can become new queen or king in a new colony after a  nuptial or wedding flight

SOLDIERS

• They soldiers are sterile i.e. unable to reproduce
• They are wingless
• They have a big head with a pair of strong and hard mandibles
• They defend the colony against enemies.

The solders are of two types

Madibulate soldier’s termite defend with their strong mandible.

Nasute soldier which kill with poison from its mouth

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