Termites
Pest Library
General Information
Termites are usually small measuring between 4 to 15 mm in length. There are over more than 2500 species of termites. Every species of termites has distinct characteristic but they all look similar. They have soft bodies and straight antennae. There are generally 6 cast in termites. King, Queen, Secondary queen, Territory queen, soldier and worker. Worker termites undertake the most labour within the colony, being responsible for foraging, food storage, and brood and nest maintenance. The soldier caste has anatomical and behavioural specialisations, and their sole purpose is to defend the colony. They are equipped with mandible. Reproduction responsibility of the colony lies with king and queen. The queen of the colony is responsible for the egg production of the colony and king mates with her for her life.
Termites cost significant damages to unprotected building and wooden furniture. Termites can be easily transported through contaminated goods, furniture, ships, containers. Drywood and subterranean termites are responsible for large proportion of the damage cost by termite. It is reported that damage cost by termites is in few thousands crore each year.
Identification
Colour: Creamy white to light brown | Size: 12 mm
Legs: 6 | Antennae: yes
Habitat & Diet
Drywood termites infest wood and create their colonies there. They often found in attic wood. They can be easily transported from one place to another by infected furniture. They feed themselves on wood.
Threat to Human as a pest
Due to their characteristic of feeding themselves on wood, they are the number one enemy of wood. They can chew tunnels inside the wooden structure or wooden furniture. It weakens the wood structure and damage the furniture to significant level. Home structure which is damage by drywood termite could be costly to repair. Their infestation in the foundation of any wooden construction may put the entire construction in danger.
Identification
Colour
Workers – pale and cream coloured
Soldiers – body: cream coloured, head: brown
Supplementary reproductive – are of same colour with opaque shade
Primary reproductive – Brown or Black
Size
Worker- 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch
Soldiers- 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch with large heads and powerful mandibles.
Supplementary and primary reproductive- 1 inch
Habitat & Diet
As name suggest subterranean termites leave below ground. Every cast of the colony is equipped with required tools which are necessary to perform their jobs. Works do not have eyes and they live their most of the time in dark. Though these species live underground they can build tunnels in search of food. Their diet consists wood and other cellulose material.
Threat to Human as a pest
These species can grow faster in number because they have more than one egg laying female. Being underground their infestation can go undetected for years can cause serious damage to property structure. Though their main diet is wood these colonies can often eat paper and cellulose base product.
Identification
Colour – Brown | Size – 20 mm to 25 mm
Habitat
These species create their colony in wood that is damaged by water or damp. They do not attack or nest in dry wood. They are generally external creature but can be attracted to damp wood that is near or within the house.
Threat to Human as a pest
Once they infest the damp wood structure which is within the house then it can cause significant damage to structure.