The Truth About Termites
A concern in 49 out of 50 states
There are about 2000 known species of termites throughout
the world. In the U.S., Subterranean Termites, including
Eastern, Western, Desert and Formosans, which build underground
nests, are a concern in every state except Alaska. Subterranean
termites are extremely destructive, because they tunnel
their way to wooden structures (like your home), into which
they burrow to obtain food. Termites all share a virtually
insatiable appetite for wood and other cellulose-containing
materials. Given enough time, they will feed on the wood
until nothing is left but a shell.
Learn more...
A Caste
of Hundreds of Thousands
Look
for Signs
Who's
Coming to Dinner in Your Neck of the Woods?
A Caste of Hundreds of Thousands
Termites are highly social insects that live in large colonies
where populations can reach more than one million. A colony
consists of several structurally differentiated forms living
together as castes (including reproductives, soldiers, and
workers) with different functions in community life.
In the spring, winged reproductives leave the parental nest
in swarms to create a new colony. The swarming lasts less
than an hour, so it's very likely you'll never even see
it. The winged reproductives themselves look quite a bit
like flying ants, for which they are often mistaken.
Those "Ants" Might be Termites
Both ants and termites have two pairs of wings, but ants'
wings are different sizes while the termites' wings are
all the same size. Also, ants have narrowed waists and elbowed
antennae while termites have thick waists and short, straight
antennae that resemble strings of beads. Don't be fooled
by color or size. Ants can vary in size, and winged termites
can be brown or black like ants.
Look for Signs
You're more likely to discover you have a termite problem
by discovering the evidence they leave behind rather than
the actual termites themselves. If you encounter any of
these telltale signs, there's a good chance termites are
busy snacking on your home:
Piles of small, delicate wings shed by reproductives
Small piles of sawdust
Mud tubes built by termites for aboveground travel
Damaged or hollow sounding wood
Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper
Of course, it's quite possible to have a hidden termite
problem even if you never notice any of these signs. The
best way to be sure is to contact a licensed pest control
professional to conduct a complete inspection of your home.
A Termidor Certified Professional will be able to determine
if you have termites and recommend the best course of action
for eliminating them quickly and completely.
