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Termites

Photo by Joey99
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

We had a rain shower yesterday afternoon. I was standing on the balcony watching the rain when several of these bugs came flying onto the balcony. They appeared to be in trouble, not able to fly correctly. They all collapsed on the floor and started wiggling around. One of them managed either to release his wings or tear himself from them (photo 3). About 30 minutes later, all the bugs were gone except one. The last one was wiggling on the floor, appearing trying to fly again. I picked him up and put him in my hand and was watching him, when a puff of wind bliew up and blew off his wings. He did not seem the worse for wear losing his wings (photo 4).

Strange bug, perhaps some kind of May Fly?

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
Joey99
Thanks SukanyaDatta, these things just flew in onto the balcony and dropped at my feet. Joe
Joey99
SukanyaDatta, Thanks again for the info. Joe
SukanyaDatta
These are termites. We had rains too and they came out...to mate...their shed wings are everywhere. I live in Kolkata, India. You got some great photos.
Joey99
C Hedstrom, yeah, I kinda of figured the wings were supposed to come off, they dropped off so easily from these bugs.
Joey99
C Hedstrom, thanks for the info. First time I can remember seeing a bug that water affected. It appeared their getting wet was what was causing them not to be able to fly. That's a big termite, much larger than other termites I've seen. Thanks again. Joe
C. Hedstrom
Looks like a termite. Reproductive members of a colony will fly away from the colony and then shed their wings at a suitable spot. The wings are supposed to come off. I am not sure if they mate before or after the wing detachment. Termites are now considered a part of the cockroach order Blattodea. I can't help you with species ID, but at least I can tell you it's probably a termite. Cool find!
Photographed
PublishedMay 5, 2014

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