Around May, enormous swarms of termites wing up, coming out from the ground, trying to find the perfect match and establish their own families. After they find each other, the lovers shed their wings and seek out locations to build their marital homes, where they then reproduce. The nuptial flight of Macrotermes barneyi occurs every year in southern China during the rainy season, which creates a rather unpleasant experience for people. As the termites venture into urban areas, their behavior takes on a new dimension under the influence of artificial light.
With the guidance of light, termites enter the window crevices left by careless people, making people’s early summer rainy nights less lonely. If fortunate, termites become integral members of their households, alleviating their solitude and ensuring they face the future together. Humans only need to bear a small sacrifice of wooden furniture for the new family member.
I can still remember the first rainy season after entering college. During the exam period, students were all making their final efforts for their grades at the library. Suddenly, termites seemed to appear out of nowhere, gradually occupying the library. As they didn’t all emerge at once, a few termites were flying around, while most of them were walking on the ground after losing their wings upon finding their mates. With such a large number, people couldn’t walk without stepping on them, resulting in the entire library being strewn with their corpses.
As they embark on their nuptial flight during the night, termites in nature are guided solely by the moonlight. However, in urban areas, they are drawn to artificial lights, appearing in groups under street lamps, and seeking partners amidst the glow of dance floor lights. Artificial lights seem to provide them with excellent dating venues.
Since the lovers lose their wings after they meet and go directly underground, they may not be influenced by the light. So artificial light only affects their search for mates. Does this increase their chances of mating?
Leave a Reply