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Known also as white ants, termites are social, cellulose eating insects. However, they are not actually related to ants. Most of the 1900 species of termites are tropical in distribution. Their size vary from small to medium, and are usually soft bodied. Termites live in colonies with a well defined caste system. There are 3 typical caste : reproductives, workers and soldiers. Both sexes are present in equal numbers, but only the reproductives have a well developed sex organ. In each colony, there will only be one pair of reproductives, the Queen and the King. The king remains as 1-2 cm long, while the Queen may reach a length of up to 11 cm, due to the enlargement of the abdomen once she starts laying eggs. The workers is the most populous caste. Workers are blind, pale and soft bodied. Their mouth parts are modified for chewing. Soldiers too are blind. Soldiers use enlarges mandibles or chemical means to defend the nest. Termites live in nest that are either within woof or under the soil. The nests are sealed from outside air to maintain high humidity. Ventilation pores are constructed for diffusion of air. New colonies are established through a process called swarming. The alates develop at a certain period of the year and exit the nest through tunnels made by workers. They emerge with other alates from other colonies within the same geographic neighbourhood to interbreed. The wings are shed soon after flight and they pair with a member of the opposite sex. The pair will then dig a small nest and seal themselves inside. Mating is followed. Termites live on cellulose, which is a major structural material in plants. They make use of various intestinal symbiotes to help digest. Primitive termites depend on flagellate protozoans to break down cellulose. Advanced termites have a bacterial flora in their guts. Only workers are able to feed themselves and they are thus responsible for feeding the rest of the colony. MORE INFO ON THE WEB
This species of ant is confined to central and south America. They march in large numbers to a tree and each individual cut a sizable circular piece of leaf. An entire tree may be completely stripped of its foliage. The leaves are not meant to be eaten. In the nest, leaf sections are chewed into sponge-like masses and stored in special chambers, far from the earth’s surface. Mushrooms grow on these masses and the ants eat them. If pieces of leaves brought back are dry, they are places outside overnight to collect moisture. And if the leaves are damp, they are left on a clear day. Is a sudden rain soaks all the leaves left outside, they are ignored and a new supply is collected. MORE INFO ON THE WEB
Army ants wander in a gypsy fashion about the countryside. Around 150 000 of them, never building nests but instead, occupy temporary bivovacs. Army ants are found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America. They travel in enormous swarms and the front of raiding party, which are made up of "scouts" and "raiders", may be several yards wide. The party gradually narrows down to a single column in the rear. Army ants swarm not only on the ground, but also on trees and shrubs. They eat only meat. Snakes, mice, rats, birds and insects are regularly eaten. Larger creatures such as deer and crocodiles that are injured or trapped and cannot escape can fall as prey to army ants too. Workers and queens are blind. Only the male have eyes. Army ants are allergic to sunlight; direct sunlight kills them within a short time. Thus, they are active at night and on dull days. Army ants are not always moving. Each group has 2 phases that are repeated over and over again. There is a statary period during which eggs are laid and larvae which the workers have been carrying develop into adults. Queens may lay up to 25 000 eggs in a week. Eggs hatch into larvae in a few days and are moved along by workers. MORE INFO ON THE WEB
Dung beetles exist in the tropical rainforests. From their name, they obviously mess around with dungs. Dung beetles locate dung using their acute sense of smell, being able to smell dung 75 metres away. Some species even perch on trees to get a better "smell" with the help of air currents. Once their dung is found, they either bury it or form it into a ball and rolled over to their nest where it forms the food for their larvae. MORE INFO ON THE WEB
Swallowtails are the most familiar family of the butterflies. They are generally large with wingspans between 54mm and 150mm. They come in various colours and patterns, but are usually yellow or white with bold black markings and bright ywllow, orange red or blue spots. Hercules beetles are large nocturnal beetles. The male of this species is very impressive as they have one long horn on the head and another on the mid region. The beetle has a shiny body with greenish blue wings, with the underside lined with reddish fur. The horns are used mainly in combats between males during times of mating. The victor gets to mate with the female hercules who waits while the battle goes on.
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