A termite is a small insect that often lives in large colonies and feeds on wood or plant material. Some species can cause serious damage to buildings and trees.
From Modern Latin *termes, termitis* 'woodworm, white ant', later reshaped to *termite* under influence of similar scientific names. The origin likely goes back to a root meaning 'to bore or cut'.
Termites are sometimes called 'white ants', but they’re actually more closely related to cockroaches. Their colonies can act like a single super-organism, with different castes working like organs in one big body.
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