Are subterranean termites the only termites that build shelter tubes?

Subterranean termites are known for building shelter tubes, which they construct using soil, wood particles, and their saliva. These tubes serve as protective highways for them to travel between their underground nests and food sources, helping them avoid predation and environmental hazards.

Other types of termites, such as drywood termites, do not build these tubes. Instead, drywood termites live inside the wood they infest and do not establish underground nests or create shelter tubes that connect to the ground. Formosan termites, a subset of subterranean termites, can also create shelter tubes, but they are not the only type to do so. Therefore, stating that subterranean termites are the only termites that build shelter tubes is not accurate.

The classification of subterranean termites as the sole builders of these tubes stems from their unique nesting behavior, which involves subterranean colonies relying heavily on these structures for survival and movement.