Which caste is NOT found in termites?

Analyze the question: Termites are social insects that live in colonies. The question asks which caste does NOT exist in a termite colony.

Explain the concept: Termite colonies have these castes:

• King: a reproductive male that stays with the queen for life and mates with her.
• Queen: a reproductive female that lays eggs, and her abdomen becomes greatly enlarged.
• Workers: sterile individuals (both male and female) that gather food, feed the colony, and build and repair the nest.
• Soldiers: sterile individuals with large heads and strong mandibles that defend the colony.

Drones are male bees (and ants and wasps). They develop from unfertilized eggs and exist mainly to mate with the queen. This caste system belongs to the order Hymenoptera, not to termites (order Isoptera/Blattodea).

Solution by elimination:

• A. Drone: not found in termites (it belongs to honey bees).
• B. King: found in termites.
• C. Queen: found in termites.
• D. Soldier: found in termites.
• E. Worker: found in termites.

Drone**.

Exam tip: Remember that termites have a king, while bees have drones. A termite colony has a permanent royal pair, but a bee colony has one queen and many drones. If you see "drone" in a question about termites, it is almost certainly the odd one out.