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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  • SexMachineStalin [comrade/them]
    ·
    3 months ago

    Another critique of South Africa's lack of material actions against genocide genocidal state of Shitrael that was highlighted on Salaamedia, if the pro-genocide entities were to gain enough power (with the South African Zionist Federation and chief rabbi Warren Goldstein directly named and shamed) the 1970s Apartheid violence could once more abruptly start kicking in people's doors.

    The University of Cape Town also divested from collaborating with ISISrael and provided several Palestinian student refugees with education (whose escape was aided directly by Gift of the Givers), with the SAZF taking the University to court over "bringing political matters to education", lmao.

    Also the book I ordered, Good Jew, Bad Jew by Steven Friedman finally arrived in the mail. I was listening to an interview by the author and he talks about the double standards of western powers and how the accusation of antisemitism has been used as a weapon.

    Blue Moon Consulting Group has openly praised Isnotreali tactics against protests and calls for more militarizarion against pro-Palestine protests on University grounds, of course some cops are trained and former members of the Diaper military. straight-up 1976 Soweto vibes

    South Africa is also quite literally one of the only countries where fleeing Palestinians aren't forced into refugee camps. Of course there still remains the hurdle of someone actually escaping to South Africa, having to traverse an entire continent to do so.

    ACDP and SAFI now both "supposedly" have DDoS protection, but their servers still get vaporized by me with like no effort:

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