Who performs most of the work in a subterranean termite colony?

In a subterranean termite colony, the majority of the work is carried out by the worker termites. These workers are responsible for various essential tasks that are crucial for the survival and efficiency of the colony. They forage for food, which primarily consists of wood and other cellulose materials, and they also perform the vital functions of building and maintaining the nest, caring for the eggs and nymphs, and even tending to the colony's queen.

Worker termites are sterile and do not reproduce, focusing instead on the overall functioning and growth of the colony. Their relentless efforts in these activities contribute to the colony's stability and ability to thrive in their environment.

Other roles within the colony, such as soldiers, swarmers, and nymphs, play specific parts but do not engage in the general labor that keeps the colony running. Soldiers, for instance, protect the colony from threats but do not gather food. Swarmers are the reproductive individuals that leave the colony to establish new colonies, while nymphs develop into one of the other castes but do not actively contribute to the maintenance of the colony at that stage. Thus, the worker termites are indeed the backbone of the subterranean termite colony.