If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Eat ‘Em
In Singapore, two-inch long termite queens are considered a yummy food treat. They are served live, dipped in alcohol, or preserved in rice wine. “Would you care for a glass of snail slime with your termite, sir?”
Pound-For-Pound Champion
It is estimated that for every human on Earth there may be 1,000 pounds of termites. That’s about the same weight as a full-grown cow!
Making a Mountain Out of a Termite Hill
Termites make hard mounds above ground in many parts of the world. In Africa, one mound was actually measured to be 42 feet high. That’s about as tall as a two-story house!
Leaning Tower of Termites
In some parts of the United States, termites build freestanding mud tubes in order to get to wood. One documented tube in a home was 12 feet long from floor to ceiling. It actually swayed with the light breeze from the home’s air conditioning.
Never to Bed, Never to Rise
Termites work 24 hours per day and never sleep. And you thought your work day was long!
Respect Your Elders
While the earliest human beings have been around for about four and a half million years, and dinosaurs existed no more than 230 million years ago, termites are believed to have appeared on Earth more than 250 million years ago.
There Goes the Neighborhood
A typical home with termites may have three to four termite colonies around it, with as many as one million termites in each colony. That’s more than the number of people in most cities.
Children of the Night
Like bats and opossums, termites tend to stay away from light.
Now Available in 49 States!
Subterranean (underground) termites are found in every state except Alaska.
A Looong Way to Go for Carryout
Worker termites search for food up to 250 feet from their colony. That would be like you walking around four and a half miles to pick up lunch.
When in Drought, Try Termites
When there is not enough food from their crops and gardens, Macu Indians use termites for food.
Hungry, Hungry Termites
One colony of Formosan termites can eat 1,000 pounds of wood each year. That’s like eating around 650 little league baseball bats.
Egg-laying Machine
Termite queens are believed to live 15-25 years and can lay an egg every 15 seconds. That’s almost half as often as you blink!
A Very Varied Bug
There are over 40 species of termites in the United States, and over 2,700 species throughout the world.
Slipping Through the Cracks
Some termites can get into your house through cracks about as thick as a penny.
“Social Cockroaches”?
Although they look kind of like ants, termites are more closely related to roaches. Because of their complex jobs and roles they are sometimes called “social cockroaches.”
Micro Methane Machines
Scientists say termites may release over 150 million tons of air-pollution-causing methane gas into the atmosphere every year.