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Termite Facts
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| Signs of Infestation:
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 | Mud tunnels along the foundation of the house inside
or out. |
| Wings or sawdust near windows, doors or in the
garage. |
| Buckling paint or tiny holes on the wood or
sheetrock. |
| Flying or "Swarming" termites in the house,
especially near light sources. |
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| Termites are
often Confused with Carpenter Ants:
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| Termite Swarmer:
 | Both wings are the same size and almost twice as long
as the body. |
| Antennae not elbowed. |
| Broad Waist. |
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| Carpenter Ant Swarmer:
| Hind wings smaller than front wings and the same
length as the body. |
| Antennae elbowed. |
| Thin, pinched waist. |
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| Eliminate any standing water and its source. |
| Keep gutters and downspouts clean, and in good repair
and free of clogs. |
| Use splash blocks where necessary. |
| Maintain proper ventilation and remove obstructions
that prevent access to the crawl space. |
| Repair leaky plumbing or any drainage under the
house. |
| Remove wood, such as scrap lumber, foundation form
boards, tree stumps and firewood from beneath and around the home. Stack firewood off the
ground and away from the house. |
| Cut back all shrubs/bushes away from the foundation
of the home. |
| Remove or correct any wood-to-ground contact. |
| To discourage Drywood termites, keep the exterior
well painted, in good repair, seal all cracks and screen all vents. |
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(Genera
Kalotermes & Incisitermes) |
Appearance:
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Larger than subterranean termites, up to 1/2 inch long; no
worker caste in this colony.
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Habits:
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Create colonies in wood, with no connection to the ground
necessary; often found in attic wood, they need very little moisture.
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Diet:
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Wood and occasionally other cellulose material.
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Reproduction:
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Nymphs pass through seven stages before reaching adulthood;
sexual forms eventually swarm to form new colony.
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Other Info:
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Cause serious damage to structures, often long before they are
discovered; piles of sawdust-like pellets are a distinct sign of infestation; not as
widespread as subterranean termites; colonies may contain up to 2700 members.
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| Subterranean Termites
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(Order Isoptera) |
Appearance:
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Four castes of a termite colony:
Worker:
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Approximately 1/4 inch long, light colored,
wingless.
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Soldier:
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Elongated head with mandibles.
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Supplementary Reproductives:
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Wingless or very short, non-functional wings; light colored.
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Primary Reproductives:
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Winged, and darker than other members; caste most often seen by
homeowners.
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Habits:
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Live in colonies underground, from which they build tunnels in
search of food; able to reach food above the level of the ground by building mud tubes;
dependent on moisture for survival.
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Diet:
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Wood and other cellulose material.
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Reproduction:
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Different rates of growth from egg stage to adult depend on
individual species; one queen per colony, which can lay tens of thousands of eggs in her
lifetime, but most eggs are laid by supplementary reproductives in an established colony.
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Other Info:
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Cause more damage to homes in the U.S. than storms and fire
combined; colonies can contain up to 1 million members.
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