King

Definition

In entomology and arachnology, 'king' can refer to the reproductive male in certain social insects like termites.

Etymology

From Old English 'cyning', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'koning' and German 'König'.

Example

In a termite colony, the king works alongside the queen to reproduce and grow the colony.

Synonyms

• Reproductive male

Related Terms

• Queen
• Worker
• Soldier
• Colony

Usage Notes

The term 'king' is specifically used to describe the long-lived male termites that mate with the queen and help establish and expand the colony.