Termites are a group of detritophagous eusocial insects which consume a wide variety of decaying plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, and soil humus. They are distinguished by their moniliform antennae and the soft-bodied and often unpigmented worker caste for which they have been commonly termed "white ants"; however, they are not ants, to which they are only distantly related. About 2,972 extant species are currently described, 2,105 of which are members of the family Termitidae.
Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blattodea (along with cockroaches). Termites were once classified in a separate order from cockroaches, but recent phylogenetic studies indicate that they evolved from cockroaches, as they are deeply nested within the group, and the sister group to wood eating cockroaches of the genus Cryptocercus. Previous estimates suggested the divergence took place during the Jurassic or Triassic. More recent estimates suggest that they have an origin during the Late Jurassic, with the first fossil records in the Early Cretaceous.
Similarly to ants and some bees and wasps from the separate order Hymenoptera, most termites have an analogous "worker" and "soldier" caste system consisting of mostly sterile individuals which are physically and behaviorally distinct. Unlike ants, most colonies begin from sexually mature individuals known as the "king" and "queen" that together form a lifelong monogamous pair. Also unlike ants, which undergo a complete metamorphosis, termites undergo an incomplete metamorphosis that proceeds through egg, nymph, and adult stages. Termite colonies are commonly described as superorganisms due to the collective behaviors of the individuals which form a self-governing entity: the colony itself. Their colonies range in size from a few hundred individuals to enormous societies with several million individuals. Most species are rarely seen, having a cryptic life-history where they remain hidden within the galleries and tunnels of their nests for most of their lives.
Termites' success as a group has led to them colonizing almost every global landmass, with the highest diversity occurring in the tropics where they are estimated to constitute 10% of the animal biomass, particularly in Africa which has the richest diversity with more than 1000 described species. They are important decomposers of decaying plant matter in the subtropical and tropical regions of the world, and their recycling of wood and plant matter is of considerable ecological importance. Many species are ecosystem engineers capable of altering soil characteristics such as hydrology, decomposition, nutrient cycling, vegetative growth, and consequently surrounding biodiversity through the large mounds constructed by certain species.
Termites have several impacts on humans. They are a delicacy in the diet of some human cultures such as the Makiritare in the Alto Orinoco province of Venezuela, where they are commonly used as a spice. They are also used in traditional medicinal treatments of various diseases and ailments, such as influenza, asthma, bronchitis, etc. Termites are most famous for being structural pests; however, the vast majority of termite species are innocuous, with the regional numbers of economically significant species being: North America, 9; Australia, 16; Indian subcontinent, 26; tropical Africa, 24; Central America and the West Indies, 17. Of known pest species, 28 of the most invasive and structurally damaging belong to the genus Coptotermes. The distribution of most known pest species is expected to increase over time as a consequence of climate change. Increased urbanization and connectivity is also predicted to expand the range of some pest termites.
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Ancient Network Of Massive Termite Mounds In Brazil Are "Biological Wonders"
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34,000-year-old termite mounds in South Africa are still being used
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CW: mention of IP owned by prominent mold-brained transphobe
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The baseball team I like is doing a harry potter day so I get to see people wearing special hats and scarves that signify their patronage of a transphobic scumbag. So that's nice.
I don't mean to hate on anyone who likes or enjoys harry Potter in ways that don't give her more money of course. I grew up with harry potter and will pirate the movies for nostalgia once every few years although her world building is absolute dog shit through adult eyes. And also, I might pirate the new open world game at some point just to see what its like. but these people gotta show everyone else that they spent extra money for a stupid hat because they love merch that gives revenue to a transphobe.
Yeah I mean who would do that, right..
Only losers enjoy entertainment
Ya true...I liked it as a kid but its dogshit and I just get angry thinking about her getting money to pay for her mold cleanup
Unlimited mold upon transphobe houses!
I am always fascinated by the house situation. Like objectively anyone who would dress up for this is not a gryffindor. That being said they are probably the majority. Hufflepuff is probably the correct choice but I would absolutely not be fun or cool about getting teased for it. Plus the black and yellow is sus. So that leaves ravenclaw. Which is fine but not as fun.
Maybe I'm not one to talk because I do wear Jedi robes to star wars day. And star wars as a franchise definitely can be criticised. But I always felt like harry Potter fandom was a bit cringe, then again star wars fandom is god awful so idk.
But ya I never would dress up like I am going to Hogwarts. That fantasy got left behind at a certain point when I wanted to fuck the characters rather than fight dark wizards with them
Star Wars, when you strip away everything else, is; A farmer, two crooks, a gay bureaucrat, a gay mechanic, a homeless veteran, and a class traitor princess team up to drop a nuclear bomb on the Pentagon. That's inherently based, no matter what else follows. The core, basic text is; A rag tag team of people from across many social classes unite in opposition to fascism and nuke Washington DC and it's awesome.
Idk what the core text of Harry Potter is. "British kid is rich, good at everything?"
George Lucas, was a fan of the USSR. A soviet film was a big inspiration for star was and the revels are specifically based on the viet cong.
Yes, you have Harry potter specific correct. HP is a trust fund jock that grows up to be a cop. His friends are a mixed race girl people make fun of but everyone let's it slide. And an poor Irish kid that everyone makes fun of and everyone let's it slide.
British kid has infinite money, eats candy on train
Star was has good bones. The it is samurai Viet Kong with some other good stuff thrown in. Sometimes it misses but sometimes it hits.
HP is magical British bording school. It does what it says on the tin. Which is terrible, so JK describes it well. But like, gross.
I don't even remember anything about the magic eugenics except that they put the liberals in one house and the liberals who were bad for some reason in the other house.
No, it's like that stupid political compass. One needs to be evil or deranged to not get Gryffindor.