The termites are a group of eusocial insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (but see also taxonomy below). As eusocial insects, termites live in colonies that, at maturity, number from several hundred to several million individuals. A typical colony contains three primary castes: the reproductives (e.g. king, queen, alates or swarmers, and immature alates or nymphs), soldiers, and workers, sensitive to light, living in nests with very broad diet, mainly feeding on living plants, rotten wood, fungi, etc. also feed on soil and humus. Termites are distributed in the subtropical and tropical regions, some in Temperate Zone major detritivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions.

       Termites are known to have four branches, forty-seven genera and over four hundred and eighty species in China. The relative destructive species include Formosan subterranean termite living in soil and wood, Odontotermes formosanus, Macrotermes barneyi, Reticulitermes chinensis, Flavipectus Reticulitermes & sand termites living in soil, etc. in which Formosan subterranean termite living in soil and wood, Odontotermes formosanus & Macrotermes barneyi are more destructive to dams and bays. Termites are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, more commonly distributed in provinces south of the Yangtze River.

        Termite life cycle refers to the whole process from egg hatch through larva, nymph to adult maturity, eclosion flight, mating and producing offspring。

         Social Organization
           1、 Termite king & Termite queen are the founder and sustainer of the termite colony, in a special status of the termite colony
           2、 Workers are the main caste in the colony. There are male workers and female workers with no female reproductive capacity. Worker termites undertake the labors of foraging, food storage, brood and nest maintenance, and some defense duties in certain species.
           3、 Soldiers: There are male soldiers and female soldiers with no female reproductive capacity. Many soldiers have large mandibles providing strength and armour which is principally a defense against against enemies and predators
           4、 Larvae are the predecessor of soldier termites, worker termites and brood matures.

         Feeding and nutrition
        Termites mainly feed on plant, animal carcasses, feces and fungi, etc. Nutrition of the colony all relies on the labor of worker termites. Worker termites ingest food at first and then feed larvae,soldier termites, termite king and termite queen of the colony with substances derived from the digestion of plant material, either from the mouth or anus. It also happens that worker termites feed each other between the mouthparts. After the nutrients in food is completely absorbed and used, the feces are discharged and usually used as materials for building nests and other aspects。

         Termites internal communication and activities
        Termites use a sophisticated chemical (pheromone) communication system. Although termites utilize a wide range of pheromones categorized as trail, alarm, aggregation, recruitment, mating, and others, which plays the role of eyes, nose and language of higher animals. Termites’ activities on ground are seasonal and closely related with the humidity. Termites activities is the most active when the 20 cm-deep soil temperature is 12 ~ 27 ℃ and the soil has enough moisture. Termites fear brightness. For example, termites always build shelter tubes like tunnel. But when the winged adult swarm, they are attracted to light sources and complete dating and mating tasks。