What is Termite?
Termites are small, pale to brownich black in color, insects that feed on wood.Termites closest insect relatives are
cockroaches, atleast 50 different kinds (Species) of termites.However, most can be lumped into one of three ecological groups; dampwood, dry wood, and subterranean. Dampwood termites are common in fallen logs in forests and are uncommon as structural pests. Dampwood termites are the most common ecological group of termites encountered. They are our smallest ecological group of termite, less than a quarter inch in
lenght.Subterranean termites form large nests in the group and forange out to attack wood using shelter tubes (also called mudtubes) that construct. These tubes are constructed from the soil, bits of chewed wood, and excrement from termites. Drywood termites are opposite in their ecology compared to subterranean termites; they do not require soil contact.Drywood termites attack wood above soil level. Drywood termites are larger than subterranean termites but smaller than dampwood termites; but an inch in size
Why do Termites look so different?
Termites are social insects. This means they have different looking individuals, called castes, to
carry out the tasks or jobs of the colony. These tasks include reproduction done by the king and queen, defense conducted by soldiers and workers who
conduct most the activities of the colony; finding food, building nests and taking care of the eggs and young termites.
What do Termites Eat?
Termites eat cellulose, the basic building block of wood. Millions of homes are built of wood, and if left unprotected or monitored, can fall prey to termite.
How do I know when I have a Termite Problem?
Most homeowners will rarely see termites. These are secretive, cryptic insects that hide deep in wood or soil. However, during the spring and into the fall ( depending of the species). termite colonies produce swarmers. These swarmers are new kings and queens. Their job is to start new colonies. Don't
worry, more than 99% will die in the first few days of life (birds, other insects, and a hostile
environment all take their toll).
Sometimes, for subterranean termites you may also notice their shelter tubes. These tubes are about are the diameter of a pencil (sometime larger) and are made of soil. If you break one open, you may see a live termite inside! Drywood termites will produce granular pallets, they look allot like large grains of pepper.
However they can vary in color . If you look closely with a hand lens, you have see the ridges on individual pellets. These ridges are diagnostic for drywood termites of
course, if you are seeing mudtubes, swarmers and pallets in all rooms of the house, it definitely a problem and time to seek
professional help.
