termite-information030605

INTRODUCTION. There are many different species of termites in North America. The following information is for the Eastern subterranean termite that is found in the northeastern parts of the United States. Subterranean termites form colonies that live in the ground. They need to stay in contact with the soil in order to survive as opposed to any kind of ant. Within each colony are different termites that perform different highly specialized functions. The different forms called "castes" are the queen, the workers, the reproductives, the soldiers and the supplemental reproductives. All together there may be hundreds of thousands of individuals. The workers are by far the most numerous while the reproductives are the most commonly observed by the homeowner. The workers extend subterranean tunnels from the colony to different sources of food and water. The food may include the wood that makes up your home. Termites are actually able to digest wood. Consequently, they can do an incredible amount of damage if left unchecked.

RECOGNITION. Termites and certain kinds of ants look very similar. See our section about comparing the two. Below are descriptions of the subterranean termite reproductive and worker.

Reproductive (also called Swarmer) - They are about 1/8" long not including wings. The two pairs of wings are longer than the body and translucent. The body is dark brown to almost black and cigar shaped. There are six small legs under the body and two antenna in front of the head. They are found outside infested wood during swarming.

Worker - They are the same size and body shape as the reproductive, but have no wings and are a creamy white color. They are found inside wood or mud/dirt tunnels

SIGNS OF INFESTATION MAY INCLUDE: 1. Mud or dirt tunnels on the interior or exterior walls of the foundation. 2. Unexplained damage to wood. 3. Swarmers or loose termite wings appearing in the house, usually near light sources in the spring.

CONTROL. Control can best be accomplished in one of two ways. The first more traditional way involves placing a chemically treated zone into the soil around your home. The variables will include individual treatment technique and choice of termiticide. The other method is installing a termite baiting system in the soil around the house. The variables for this method include size of the station and number of visits per year.

RECOMMENDATION. The presence of termites in your home is a serious problem. The first step is a thorough inspection made by a professional, preferably us. Due to the many different factors involved we feel a professional would serve your needs better than doing it yourself. Feel free to contact us for a free estimate or further information.