Subterranean Termite
Order Isoptera, Family Rhinotermitidae
Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. Causing
more than $2 billion in damage each year, Subterranean termites do more property damage than that
caused by fire and windstorm combined. While in nature, subterranean termites are beneficial as
they break down dead trees and other wood materials into humas, problems arise when Termites attack
the wooden elements of structures we live and work within -- homes, businesses and warehouses where
their attack and activity can go unnoticed for years.
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- Subterranean Termite Appearance:
- Four "castes" of a termite colony:
workers
are approximately 1/4-inch long, light-colored and wingless
- Soldiers
have elongated heads with mandibles
- Reproductives
(or Swamers) have four wings of equal size until they are shed. Primary Reproductives are the termites most
often seen in the open.
- Subterranean Termite Habits:
- Live in colonies underground, from which they build mud-tunnels in search of food; able to reach
food above the ground level by building
mud tubes
; dependent on moisture for survival.
- Subterranean termites can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt
from these termites.
- Subterranean Termite Diet:
- Wood
and other cellulose material.
- Subterranean Termite Reproduction:
- Different rates of growth from egg stage to adult depending on individual species;
one queen
per colony, which can lay tens of thousands of eggs in its lifetime, but most eggs are laid by
supplementary reproductives in an established colony.
- Colonies can contain up to 1 million members.
- Colonies tend to swarm during the springtime when conditions are best, but can swarm at any time
during the year.
- Other Subterranean Termite Facts:
- Termites cause over $2 billion in damages each year.
- Subterranean termites cause 95% of all
termite damage
in North America.
- Subterranean termites will die if exposed to air for an extended period of time, the mud tunnels
they build provide protection from the open air, allowing workers to carry food to the nest.
- They need to stay in contact with the soil in order to survive, unlike drywood termites that only
need low moisture.
- Subterranean Termite Prevention Tips:
- Store firewood away from the house.
- Make sure at least four inches of the foundation can be seen all around the home. Siding should
not extend into the soil. Mulch and soil should not touch the siding.
- Make sure water drains away from the foundation to ensure water does not accumulate. Rain
gutters are ideal; however, the downspout should direct the water away from the home.
- Roof or plumbing leaks can allow termites to survive above ground in a house. These should be
corrected as soon as possible.
- Preventative Termite Treatments are strongly recommended and routine followup inspections each year after
the initial termite treatment
