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Winged reproductives

are the termites you may see when they "Swarm" usually in Spring signaling a well-developed colony. After shedding their wings, reproductives pair off, burrow into the soil and begin a new colony.

Soldiers

with armored heads and strong jaws, protect the colony from enemies, mostly ants

Workers

represent most of the termites in a colony, blind and sterile. They forage for the colony's food. Most damage is caused by workers

Supplementary Reproductives

act as replacement for the Queen if she should die. Even if the queen is healthy, they may also produce eggs to increase colony size

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES

Termites commonly found are called subterranean termites because they live underground.

Termite colonies are highly organized societies of several hundred thousand to 1 million or more individuals within a loose collection of underground tunnels and chambers. Workers (1/8-inch, creamy white, wingless, segmented body, bead-like antennae) are the most numerous members of the colony. They build and maintain the nest, care for the immatures, and forage for food to eat and carry back to the nest.

Termite food consists of wood and other cellulose products such as paper and cardboard. Reproductives, i.e., queens and kings, produce the new offspring, while soldiers guard the colony from invasion. Swarmers (3/8-inch, straight-sided, black body, silver wings) are male and female adults that emerge from well-established colonies to attempt to establish new colonies.

Subterranean termite workers constantly explore for food by excavating a network of random, pencil-sized tunnels through the soil in the area surrounding their nest. Foraging may occur over considerable distances --- up to 100 meters (330 feet) in some cases. Homes become infested when the termites find a way into the house during their constant and random search for food.

A termite infestation in the home is usually not obvious because most activity in concealed. Signs of a termite problem include the presence of pencil-wide mud foraging tubes on foundation walls, floor joists, etc., the presence of damage inside structural wood, drywall, paneling, molding, paper or cardboard, and emergence of swarmers.

Presence of termites in or near a house is reason for inspection of the house and property. There is no need to panic or rush. Take your time to get complete information.

DRYWOOD TERMITES

Damage consists of large chambers and connecting small tunnels within the infested wood that are clean and smooth on the inside.

Drywood termite damage is usually confined to the infested areas though movement of the colony into the structure is possible. Timber may be completely ruined by the feeding action of the termites.

As the name implies, drywood termites establish in dry, sound wood that may have as little as 3 percent moisture content. They are not dependent upon a constant moisture supply as are the subterranean termites.

One of the common symptoms of drywood termite attack is the accumulation of tiny, straw-colored fecal pellets inside or beneath infested furniture. These pellets sift from small holes in the surface of infested wood or are pushed out through small round openings maintained by the termites for this purpose. The hard fecal pellets have six distinct, concave surfaces. Presence of pellets does not prove damaged wood is currently infested, as pellets continue to sift from timber for many years after termites are controlled or die. However, large, consistent accumulations of pellets are a convincing sign the termites are still active.

Options for drywood termite control: First, evaluate the level of infestation and the value of infested timber to decide if the timber should be discarded or treated. If you decide to salvage infested timbers you may choose to hire a pest control operator. Insecticide liquids acid can be "injected" into the termite galleries either through existing holes or though small holes drilled through the wood surface. This method is time consuming and laborious and not particularly effective, though with persistence, small infestation can be eliminated. Pest control operators have available pressurized aerosol injectors that allow liquid insecticide to be injected into infested wood. This method is highly effective but is generally not available to homeowners. Similarly, fumigation in a vault or tarp is an option only available to professionals.

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