What do soldier termites primarily do?

Soldier termites primarily serve the essential role of protecting their colony. Their primary function is to defend against predators, such as ants and other animals that may threaten the safety of the termite colony. Equipped with strong mandibles, soldier termites can ward off attackers and ensure the survival of their peers within the colony.

While the other roles mentioned, such as gathering food, reproducing, and building tunnels, are crucial to the colony’s success, these tasks are primarily handled by worker termites and the queen. Workers are responsible for foraging for food and maintaining the structural integrity of the nest by constructing tunnels. The queen, meanwhile, focuses on reproduction to ensure the growth of the colony. Thus, the soldier termites' specialization in defense is what distinguishes their responsibilities within the colony structure.