SIGNS OF TERMITE DAMAGES

Termites cause damage to Furniture, Books, Cabinets, Library, Windows, Currency notes, Wooden doors, Important Documents, Wooden Frame

WHAT ARE TERMITES?

Termites or “White ants” as they are commonly known are social insects. Subterranean termites live underground in a colony comprising of queen, king, workers and soldiers. There could be millions below the ground, inside walls, furniture etc.

Termites are the biggest threat to assets which man cherishes to own. Studies in the us have proved that termites cause more damage than fires, Floods and Cyclones every year.

Termites are silent destroyers and their treatment is necessary. By the time they surface, 80% of the damage would have been done. They feed on anything containing cellulose ranging from wooden furniture to books.

SIZE

Worker: 1/8- to 3/8-inch in length.

Body is similar as the worker, but large, deck head with powerful mandibles.

Primary & Supplementary Reproductive: About one inch in length.

COLOR

Worker: pale, cream coloured.

Solider: Light coloured with brown head.

Supplementary Reproductive: Light coloured.

Primary Reproductive: Dark brown/black

BEHAVIOR

This termite is known to swarm in spring, but small flights can occur at any time of the year. Swarming is the visible means that termites use to establish different tasks required. One caste produced is the workers. Another caste is the soldiers. And a third caste is the reproductive. Primary reproductive swarm and start new colonies. They are called alates or swarmers. Although thousands of primary reproductive may be produced each year, they all leave the nest. Supplementary reproductive, on the other hand, can become reproductive only in the colonies in which they were born. They assist the primary king and queen in population growth of the colony.

HABITAT

Subterranean termites live in colonies in the ground, building vertical tunnels that look like mud tube above ground level so that they can search for food. Because subterranean termites will die if exposed to air for an extended period of this, the tunnels provide protection from the open air, allowing worker to carry food to the nest. Subterranean termites can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt from these termites. They need to stay in contact with the soil in order to survive, unlike dry wood termites that only need low moisture.