Which termite role is responsible for the colony's reproduction?

The role responsible for reproduction in a termite colony is that of the swarmers, also known as alates. Swarmers are the winged adult termites that leave the colony to mate and establish new colonies. They are produced during specific times of the year, often coinciding with rain or changes in temperature, and their primary function is to find a mate and start a new reproductive cycle.

In contrast, workers are primarily involved in foraging for food, caring for the young, and maintaining the nest, but they do not reproduce. Nymphs are immature termites that will develop into workers, soldiers, or swarmers, but they themselves do not play a direct role in reproduction until they mature into swarmers. Soldiers serve the colony by protecting it from predators but, like workers, they do not reproduce.

Thus, swarmers are crucial for the continuation of the termite colony through reproduction, which distinguishes their role from that of other castes in the colony.