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TERMITES:Subterranean termites, in natural
settings, work as beneficial insects by breaking down
cellulose-containing materials, such as dead trees. They live in the
soil and must maintain contact with the ground or some other moisture
source to survive. Termites become a problem to humans when structures
containing cellulose are built over or near their colonies in the
ground. They are able to find weakened areas in the structure, or areas
of direct wood-to-ground contact, and feed on the cellulose. Termites
build earthen shelter tubes from the ground into the structure for
protection from predators and to help maintain a moist environment.
Many times these tubes are built on inside walls, porches or chimneys
where they cannot be seen.
In some rare situations, if water and wood are available from
a source other than the soil, subterranean termites can establish a
colony with no ground contact. Isolated, above-ground infestations may
occur in buildings where termites have access to water from
condensation, leaking pipes, roofs or other sources.
Termites are social insects that live in highly organized colonies.
Like many insects, termites have an egg, an immature and an adult
stage. There are three main types of adult colony members, or castes:
reproductives, workers and soldiers. The reproductives include the king
and queen, and in large colonies, supplementary reproductives that
produce eggs. Workers are usually the most numerous individuals in the
colony. They are small, wingless and whitish and may be found in
damaged wood. Workers care for all of the other termites and forage for
food (wood). The soldiers protect the colony from attackers such as
ants.
Soldiers fit the same description as workers, but have long, dark
mouthparts protruding from their large heads. Soldiers may also be
found in damaged wood. Termites are able to digest wood with the help
of microorganisms which live in the termite gut.
When a colony is several years old and relatively large, it
may produce another form of adult termite called a "swarmer." Swarmers
have four wings, are often brown or black and range in size from
approximately 3/8 to ¼ inch. Swarmers are the termite’s way of sending
out new kings and queens to start colonies. In the spring, great
numbers of swarmers can fly from a single colony. Male and female
swarmers pair up, shed their wings and tunnel into the ground. The pair
then prepare a chamber near a wood source where the female will begin
to lay eggs. These eggs are cared for by the king and queen and will
develop into worker termites. The workers take over care of the young
from the queen and king. Once enough workers are established, soldiers
and other castes will develop from eggs produced by the queen. Two or
three years after the establishment of the colony, secondary
reproductives are produced. These greatly increase the egg-laying
activity and population of the colony. Normally at least three to four
years or more will pass before any swarming of winged termites from the
colony occurs.
Swarmers are the most visible form of termite. These termites
can be confused with many ants that also swarm in the spring. However,
swarming ants have elbowed antennae, a narrow waist and front wings
that are longer than the back wings. Swarming termites have straight
antennae, a thick waist and all wings the same length.
Source:Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service
Wood destroying
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575-763-1867
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