Castes of Drywood Termites

There are three (3) classes or categories of Drywood Termites: Swarmers/reproducers which include (queen, king, alates), the soldiers, and the workers. Alates and solders are used for species identification.

The western drywood termite is not a "typical" Incisitermes in that several characteristics (color, wings, ocellus, arolium, soldier eye, etc.) are distinct from most other species of Incisitermes.

Workers:

Drywood termites lack true workers, a terminal caste which is reproductively sterile and found only in the Termitidae. Instead, drywood termite workers are called "pseudergates" (literally false workers) if they lack wing pads or "nymphs" if wing pads are present. The workers develop from earlier instars that are often referred to as larvae, even though termites go through simple metamorphosis. Pseudergates are not sterile or a terminal caste, therefore they maintain the capability of molting into a soldier, a supplementary reproductive (neotenic), or an alate.

Soldiers:

The soldiers have large, reddish-brown head capsules that are heavily sclerotized. The mandibles are large and black with two prominent teeth visible on the inner margin of the left mandible. Western drywood termite soldiers are recognized by the enlarged, club-like third antennal segment that is as long or longer than the fourth through sixth antennal segments combined. Soldiers of mature, older colonies are large, ranging from 8 to more than 12 mm long and weighing as much as 20 to 25 mg.

Swarmer (Alate):

Alates are winged male and female termites and are the only caste that, during swarming season, leaves the colony. If successful in mating, some will become a new kings and queens and start a new colony. The western drywood termite alate has an orange-brown head and pronotum, and a dark brown abdomen. The wings are dark with a somewhat smoky tint to them. Alates are 11 to 12.5 mm long, full length includes the wings.