Types of Termites

Termites are an order of insects that have existed for many millions of years with the most ancient species coexisting with the dinosaurs.

Termite Facts:

  1. Termites are commonly called white ants, but are more closely related to cockroaches rather than ants.
  2. Both termites and cockroaches have been amongst the longest surviving animals in the world and can readily adapt to changing environments.
  3. Currently the number of termite species around the world is approximately 2,500.
  4. The number of termite species and subspecies is likely to increase over time as identification techniques improve.
  5. Subterranean termites cause the majority of damage in the USA, while Drywood Termites also pose a threat to homes in certain areas.

Termites are social insects with several castes:

QUEEN: may live more than 25 years in several species.

SOLDIER: main function in the colony is to protect the others from insects such as ants. Soldier termites have prominent jaws, and they give off a defensive, and sometimes repellent chemical.

WORKER: performs the work of the colony. They construct earthen leads, search for and breakdown timber as well as feeding all the other castes. The worker caste has no wings, no prominent jaws and a paler head than soldiers.

REPRODUCTIVES: once a colony has reached a certain population density, sexual forms/reproductives, are produced. These develop wings (they are then called alates) and when mature they leave the colony on a colonizing flight to establish new colonies.

Habits

  • Termites are often mistakenly thought of as part of the ant family of insects. This ancient species, however, has many defining characteristics of which every homeowner should be aware.
  • A termite's favourite substance is cellulose, which can be found in most wood and paper products. Termites will also attack carpet, plastic, soft metals and electrical cabling. Cellulose can be obtained through sources other than wood, such as grass and debris.

Termites live in colonies and are "social insects":

  1. Social insects always operate for the good of the colony and are willing to sacrifice themselves to help the colony survive.
  2. Termites are blind and work 24 hours a day.
  3. A large nest may contain several million termites with thousands added each day from a queen who can live more than twenty-five years in several species.
  4. The average termite (worker/soldier) has a life span of up to four years.
  5. Most pest species of termites have a high moisture requirement for the colony to survive. They have thin cuticles (skin), which must not dry out, or the termite will die.
  6. Termites are therefore attracted to concealed areas in houses such as the cavity wall, bathroom cabinets or wet areas. Anywhere there may be a regular supply of moisture is prone to attract termites.
  7. Termites can squeeze through gaps as small as one thirty second of an inch in diameter.

Areas

Termites cause extensive damage to the structure of a home or commercial building, as well as the fixtures, fittings and floor coverings inside.

Did you know that:

  1. $1.1 billion is spent annually in the United States to repair damage caused by termites.
  2. Termite damage, in most cases, may not be visible for at least 12 to 18 months beyond the initial infestation. By then, your home may be harboring approximately one million termites.
  3. Termites can enter a building through any material directly in contact with the soil. They also enter through foundation cracks, concrete joints, gaps between water pipes and the concrete slab, bath traps, and via transportation (mud) tubes they create over or through the foundation.*

  • In Austin, termite damage repair costs total approximately $1 million annually.
  • Average damage repair cost per structure is $10,000.

* Source: Subterranean Termites by Roger E. Gold, Harry N. Howell, Jr. and Grady J. Glenn, published by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at The Texas A&M; University System.

Damage

  1. Termites cause more damage to homes in the United States than fires and storms combined. It is estimated that each year termites cause more than $1 billion in property damage to over 600,000 homes in the USA. The cost per structure averages $10,000.
  2. Subterranean termites cause 95% of all termite damage in North America, while drywood termites can also pose a threat to your home.
  3. Recent surveys show that in areas with warmer climates, 1 in 5 houses will be affected.
  4. As house building patterns change and urbanization increases, termites are now causing more damage in areas previously associated with low termite activity.
  5. The cost of maintaining protection of a house against termite attack on an annual basis is rising substantially.
  6. Termites enter houses and buildings from underground through unprotected and concealed gaps in foundations and concrete slabs. They can destroy structural wall timbers, roof timbers, bathroom cabinets, books and even built -in furniture. Often a termite attack will be undetected until too late.
  7. All of this termite attack and damage is preventable by installing an effective and permanent termite barrier into the home or building at the time of construction.