Life Cycle of a Termite

There are different rates of growth from the egg stage to the adult stage, which is dependent on the actual species. Each colony has one queen, and although she has the ability to lay tens of thousands of eggs in her lifetime, most eggs are laid by supplementary reproductives in an established colony.  Termites hatch from eggs and can go through several life stages to reach maturity.  Eggs hatch into larvae and molt (shed their exoskeletons) to develop into workers, soldiers, primary reproductives, and secondary reproductives. 

Once reproductives become fully mature termites capable of reproducing, they develop wings and functioning eyes. When weather conditions are right, these termites will leave the nest in a swarm. Swarming termites take off to form new colonies.  A mature colony may release "swarmers" (winged males and females) in late spring through fall, depending on the species.