Termites
Subterranean Termites - General
- Most common type of termite.
- Cause 1.5 billion dollars worth of damage in the U.S. each year.
- Live in underground colonies or in moist secluded areas above ground.
- Average eastern subterranean termite colony contains approximately 60,000 to 100,000 members.
- Organized into castes depending on tasks -- workers, soldiers and reproductives.
Worker Termites
- Have creamy-white soft bodies.
- Approximately 1/4 inch long.
- Most often seen when active termite damage is discovered.
- Responsibilities include tunneling, building, feeding and servicing other termites (reproductives and soldiers).
Soldier Termites
- Role is to protect the colony from predators.
- Have heads as large as the rest of the body.
- Equipped with strong mandibles used in defense of the colony.
Reproductive Termites
- Shiny, dark brown to black in color and approximately 1/4 - 1/2 inch long.
- Have 2 pairs of transparent wings.
- Will produce new reproductive termites called "swarmers" or "alates."
- Homeowners often see these in the spring and/or fall on a wet, warm day.
- Few swarmers, emerging indoors, survive to initiate new colonies.
- Often confused with flying or swarmer ants
Termites