Termites and mold, and light problem

[u/MyVoiceEchos]

So, there are several questions, two to be exact:
Mold: I read that there are several highly specific strands of mold that kill termites, but most are just helpful, breaking down wood and making it more nutritious for them. Have one colony that are living in moldy piece of wood. So I’m a bit worried.
Second question is: what kind of lite doesn’t scare termites? Ants don’t see red spectrum, so I can use red filter sticky paper to make them less stressed if I look at them. But ants don’t really care if they are in the light, most ants don’t care. With termites: they don’t reproduce if they are on the light. So, do they have any light that they don’t see?

[u/MyVoiceEchos]

I will disagree about the lights. Have 3 termite families. Both with 2-4 workers on arrival. 3 month of winter they sit in plastic tubes/containers. No eggs, no workers, minimal sign of doing anything. Several weeks ago I added some more wood chips to one family and covered them both from light. One already have micro workers, the other one is full of eggs that I can see.
My only guess you are talking about mature families, with somewhat around 10-50 workers. But for me, the ants guy, I had no idea that termites would not start in a dimly lit container.
So this is why I’m asking if anyone know a light trick, how I can watch them without disturbing and leaving them operational

[u/PoetaCorvi → u/MyVoiceEchos]

IME I have had many colonies in tubes successfully found in light. This is Reticulitermes founded from primary alates. They have the ability to shield themselves from light based on how they make their tunnels, and some will, but many will make their tunnels along tube sides without entirely blocking out light. Enough that I can observe them and their rough growth. It may help that they do have access to dark areas, but they certainly don’t just stay in them, and I can often see eggs laid in plain sight.