When people think about Termites they often think they are ants - but the two species comes from different families in the insect world. Termites have been around millions of years and can eat their way through wooden houses but they are actually quite delicate insects.
Habitat: Nests fall into two types those above ground and those underground. Above ground they may appear as dirt mounds, in trees or on other structures. Below ground they are found tunnels under the earth or tree stumps.
The nests themselves need to have very high levels of humidity as the worker termites are very thin skinned and will easily dry out and die. They also need to maintain a high temperature and it is usually between 25 or 30 degrees inside the nest.
Most people do think Termites only eat wood as they are often associated with wood damage. However there are many species that also consume other organic substances. They have special digestive system that is capable of transforming wood cellulose into more palatable sugars.
A colony is made up of termites fitting into a strict social structure. The one Queen who can live for more than twenty years producing new eggs. The single king has a role to fertilize the eggs and to help bring up the children. The thin skinned worker termites gather food and do nest maintenance but seldom leave the nest. This is due to their thin skin and the need for a humid environment. The colony is protected by a class of Soldier termites equipped with fighting equipment. And there are also Reproducers. This class matures through to having wings. In spring or fall when temperatures are warm and humid they can fly away to start a new nest.
Colonizing Flights are done by the reproducer class and usually occur before and after winter when there is warm humid weather. When a new site is found the new King and Queen lose their wings and the Queen begins laying eggs. Initially they both look after the offspring in the new colony but as it grows the social structure comes into being and the Queen concentrates on laying eggs. A colony can have from several hundred to several million termites.
Termite damage: When termites colonize around houses they can eat their way through wood structures. You might not be able to see the damage from the outside initially; it could over five years before signs are visible. As well as wood they can eat trees, books, plants and even have a go at your swimming pool. If there is a termite colorization in your home a professional will be needed to help you get rid of them.
Termites can cause serious problems for homeowners. When a termite infestation is detected its important that proper termite pest control procedures are followed.
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