Eastern Subterranean Termites
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The Eastern Subterranean termite
is the most common and most widely distributed termite in North
America. It is a problem for home owners from southern Ontario
in Canada, south throughout the Eastern United States and as far
west as Montana.
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Termites feed on wood and serve an important
function in nature by converting dead trees into organic matter.
Unfortunately, termites don't know the difference between dead
trees and the wood in your home. |
| This native American
pest feeds on such cellulose materials as structural wood, wood
fixtures, paper, books, and cotton. Occasionally, it will even
attack the roots of shrubs and trees |
| A mature colony of Eastern
Subterranean termites can range from a low of 20,000 to a high of
5 million workers, with an average of 300,000. The colony's queen
will add 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year to the total. |
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While Eastern Subterranean termite colonies are not the
largest termite colonies you can find, there will often be more
than one of them working in a single building. Signs of Easterns
include dirt-colored tubes built to serve as protected paths
from the earth to the wood the termites are feeding on, and the
translucent wings shed by the kings and queens during swarming.
Swarming usually occurs in the spring, but other, smaller swarms
can occur throughout the summer and fall.
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Some quick facts
Biology
Subterranean termites are
ground-inhabiting, social insects that live in colonies. A colony
or nest of subterranean termites may be up to 18-20 feet below the
soil surface to protect it from harsh weather conditions. Termites
travel through mud tubes to reach food sources above the soil
surface. The mature termite colony has three castes: a)
reproductives (king and queen), b) soldiers, and c) workers. The
colony reaches its maximum size in approximately 4 to 5 years and
may include 60,000 to 200,000 workers. New colonies are formed
when winged males and females from a parent colony emerge in
flight or swarm.
The winged reproductives (commonly called swarmers) 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 and fall, especially after a rain.
After a flight, the winged males and females return to the ground
and shed their wings. The wingless males and females pair up 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 60,000 eggs in her
lifetime. The eggs are yellowish white and hatch after an
incubation of 50 to 60 days.
Full-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
immatures, excavating wood, and constructing tunnels. Workers
mature within a year and live from 3 to 5 years.
Soldiers are creamy white, soft-bodied, wingless and blind. The
head of the soldier is enormously elongated, brownish, hard and
equipped with two 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 5
years.
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Difference Between Termites and Ants
| Flying ants and swarming termites
are often difficult to tell apart. Termites have relatively
straight, beadlike 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. |
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Feeding Habits
| 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, sheetrock, 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, artwork, books, clothing,
furniture and valuable papers. Subterranean termites do not attack
live trees. |
- An average Eastern Sub termite colony can consume
5 grams of wood per day, the equivalent of 2 1/3 linear feet of a
2'x4' pine board annually.
- Colony growth is slow, and it may take years
before swarmers are produced.
- Eastern Sub termites can enter buildings through
cracks less than 1/16" wide.
- The termite colony is made up of different types
(castes) of termites - each with separate work responsibilities.
- Although Eastern Sub termite colonies are largely
located in the ground below the frost line, secondary colonies can
exist above ground,and examples of true above ground colonies
existing without any ground contact have been seen. However, such
above ground colonies have access to moisture and often the source
is a roof or plumbing leak.
- Eastern Sub termites will often build mud tubes
for travel between their colonies and their food sources.
- The king and queen in a colony can live for 10 to
30 years, while workers live for about two years
Evidence of Termite Infestations
- Wood damaged by termites always has remains
of mud tubes attached to wood galleries or tunnels in an
irregular pattern. The tunnels may contain broken mud particles
with fecal materials. In the case of an active colony, white
termites may be found in infested wood.
- The presence of flying winged males,
females or their shed wings inside the building indicates an
infestation.
- The presence of mud or shelter tubes
extending from the ground to woodwork or on foundation walls
also may indicate infestation. Workers travel periodically via
shelter tubes to their nest to regain moisture and perform
feeding duties. Each mud tube is approximately the diameter of a
lead pencil.
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How Old is the Damage?
| Based on normal feeding activity,
it takes 3 to 8 years to cause appreciable damage. There have been
some predictions that, under ideal conditions, a termite colony of
60,000 workers may consume a one-foot length of 2" x 4" pine in
118 to 157 days. |
Inspection for Subterranean Termites
 Termite damage may be located by
probing wood with a screwdriver, ice pick or knife. Start
inspection in the basement and use a bright flashlight. Look for
mud tubes and the activity of swarms. If necessary, get help from
a professional pest control operator or advice from an experienced
entomologist. A qualified
professional inspector should inspect the exterior and interior
surfaces of the foundation, particularly construction where wood
is on or near the soil. Mud tubes are solid evidence of termite
activity.
Other sites requiring inspection are: a) wood construction in
basement and crawl space (if present); b) sills, joists, support
posts, basement window frames, wood under porches; c) hollow
blocks, cracks in cement or brick construction and expansion
joints; and d) scrap wood on ground, old tree stumps, fence posts
and exterior frames of basement windows. The inspector should be
able to determine if termites are active or not, how old the
damage may be, and if chemical treatment is necessary. |
Useful Information If Termite Treatment is Necessary
- Do not panic. There is no need to be alarmed
if termite activity is found in your home and treatment is
necessary. Termites work slowly and the structure will not be
extensively damaged or collapse overnight.
- Take your time to make a sound decision. Do
not allow anyone to force you to make quick decisions. It is
important to request the plan of work revealing sites of termite
activity and treatment procedures. Ask for written information
on chemical treatment procedures, repair of woodwork,
warranties, copies of insecticide labels and other pertinent
information.
- Beware these situations:
- Someone says that a structure will be treated
with a secret chemical formula only they have access too.
Generally all companies have access to the same chemicals. The
big difference is in the service
- Pest control operators with no business
address and no listed phone number, and
- Operators with no liability insurance.
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Termite Control
| The goal is to establish a
continuous insecticide barrier between the termite colony (usually
in the soil) and wood in a building. Sometimes there may be a
secondary termite colony above the soil (in the roof or other
areas with a constant moisture supply) that requires additional
treatment. Insecticide barriers may be established during or after
building construction. In an existing building, termite treatments
may involve any of the following procedures: a) mechanical
alterations, and/or b) use of an insecticide to treat the soil,
foundation and wood. Termite treatments should always be performed
by a licensed, trained, or certified person. Generally, termite
treatment requires special tools such as hammer drills, sub-slab
injectors, rodding devices, engines equipped with pumps,
protective equipment, etc. |
 Whatever the species, Termidor® termiticide is
your answer and PEST ARRESTERS is your Termidor® Certified
Professional.
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here for more information on Termidor®.
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For additional questions pertaining to termites
and their treatment or to schedule an appointment for a FREE termite
inspection of your home click here to
contact us. |
