TERMITES

Termites are not ants. The winged termites don't feed on wood, only the wingless forms feed on wood and serve an important function in nature by converting dead trees into organic matter. Unfortunately, the wood in buildings is equally appetizing to termites and serious damages are caused to residential and commercial structures. Subterranean termites are found the most serious problems since they make the building foundation hard to fix.

Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies (nests), which live under the ground. A colony of subterranean termites may be up to 25 feet below the soil surface to protect it from extreme weather conditions. These termites like moisture environment and usually travel through mud tubes to reach food sources above the soil surface once the food source being spotted . The mature termite colony has three castes: a) reproductive individuals (king and queen), b) soldiers, and c) workers. The colony reaches its maximum size in approximately 3 to 5 years and may include 30,000 to 250,000 workers. New colonies are formed when winged males and females from a parent colony emerge in flight or swarm.

The winged forms are dark brown to brownish black and have two pairs of equal size wings that extend well beyond the body. Swarms are common in spring or fall, especially after a raining day. The swarms usually finished in few hours. After a flight, the winged males and females return to the ground and shed their wings. The wingless males and females pair off and search for sources of wood and moisture in soil. The royal couple digs a chamber in the soil near wood, enters the chamber and seals the opening. After mating, the queen starts laying eggs. The queen may live up to 25 years and lay more than 600,000 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are yellowish white and hatch after an incubation of 40 to 70 days.

Fully-grown workers are soft-bodied, wingless, blind and creamy white. In early stages, they are fed predigested food by the king and queen. Once workers are able to digest wood, they provide food for the entire colony. The workers perform all the labor in the colony such as obtaining food, feeding other caste members and immature individuals, excavating wood, and constructing tunnels. Workers mature within a year and live from three to five years. Soldiers are creamy white, soft-bodied, wingless and blind, but much larger. The head of the soldier is enormously elongated, brownish, hard and equipped with two big jaws.

Soldiers must be fed by workers because they cannot feed themselves. They are less numerous in the colony than workers and their only function is to defend the colony against invaders. Soldiers mature within a year and live up to six years.

Flying ants and swarming termites are often difficult to tell apart. Termites have relatively straight, bead-like antennae while ants have elbowed antennae. Termites have two pair of wings (front and back) that are of almost equal length. Ants also have two pair of wings but the fore wings are much larger than the hind wings. The abdomen of the termite is broadly joined to the thorax while the abdomen and thorax of the ant are joined by a narrow waist called a petiole.

Subterranean termites feed exclusively on wood and wood products containing cellulose. Termites have protozoa (microorganisms) in their intestines that provide enzymes to digest cellulose. Although termites are soft-bodied insects, their hard, saw-toothed jaws work like shears and are able to bite off extremely small fragments of wood, a piece at a time. Termites often infest buildings and damage lumber, wood panels, flooring, sheet rock wall, wallpaper, plastics, paper products and fabric made of plant fibers. The most serious damage is the loss of structural strength. Other costly losses include attacks on flooring, carpeting, art works, books, clothing, furniture and valuable papers. Subterranean termites do not attack live trees.

Termites communicate primarily by secreting chemicals called pheromones. Each colony develops its own characteristic odor. An intruder is instantly recognized and an alarm pheromone is secreted that triggers the soldiers to attack. If a worker finds a new source of food, it lays a chemical trail for others to follow. The proportion of termites in each caste within the colony is also regulated chemically. Nymphs or immatures can develop into workers, soldiers or reproductive adults depending on colony needs. Sound is another means of communication. Soldiers and workers may bang their heads against the tunnels creating vibrations perceived by others in the colony and serving to mobilize the colony to defend itself. Mutual exchange of foods enhances recognition of colony members.

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