Which of the following is not a job of a worker termite?

Worker termites play a crucial role within their colonies, focusing on several vital tasks that ensure the survival and efficiency of their groups. Among these tasks, building mud tubes, caring for the queen and larvae, and foraging for food are all essential functions that worker termites perform.

Building mud tubes is important because these structures provide protection for termites as they travel between their nests and food sources. This helps keep them safe from predators and environmental factors. Caring for the queen and larvae ensures the continuation of the colony, as the workers are responsible for maintaining the health and environment of both the reproductive members and the young termites. Foraging for food is critical, as worker termites actively seek out cellulose sources, which are their primary food source, to sustain the colony.

In contrast, swarming is a behavior associated with reproductive termites, not workers. Swarming usually occurs during specific seasons as a method for reproduction, where winged termites (alates) leave the colony to mate and establish new colonies. Thus, the action of swarming in early spring to start a new colony does not pertain to worker termites, cementing why this choice is correct.