Do you Think you Have Termites?
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Termites are considered to be the most destructive insect pests in the world. Many buildings and structures are damaged by these pests each year, resulting in substantial financial losses.
There are 200 different species of termites in America, but only a handful causes problems to properties:
- Coptotermes gestroi
- Coptotermes curvignathus
- Coptotermes havilandi
- Coptotermes kalshoveni
- Coptotermes sepangensis
- Macrotermes gilvus
- Macrotermes pakistanicus
- Globitermes sulphureus
- Schedorhinotermes sp.
- Microcerotermes sp.
About 90% of property damages in America are caused by Coptotermes species making it the “public enemy number 1” in America.
Coptotermes spp.
Family: Rhinotermitidae (subfamily Coptotermitidae)
Genus: Coptotermes
Type: Subterranean.
Castes: Queen, king, soldier, worker, reproductive.
Nest type & Behavior: Coptotermes build a nest in the soil because they are very dependent on it for moisture. In their search for food, subterranean termites construct mud tubes because they are susceptible to desiccation when exposed to air. Therefore, they usually work their way above ground to reach wood or any other cellulose source. The cellulose is then broken down into simple starch with the help of the protozoans in the termites gut.
Economic significance: Termites are considered to be amongst the most destructive pest in the world.
Termite Society
The primary castes in a colony are queens, kings, workers, soldiers and alates.
Termite Queen & King
Giving life to the colony
The function of the Queen and King in the termite colony is to reproduce. Starting life as an Alate, they leave their parents’ territory, drop to the ground and shed their wings to seek an environment to nest. Then, they care for their young until they can take over the duties of the colony.
Termite Workers
The ‘doers’
The workers make up the most significant number within a colony. They do all of the work (except defend and reproduce): feeding, grooming, excavating the nest and making tunnels. But, in doing their jobs, they cause the destruction that affects so many homes.
Termite Soldiers
The colony’s defence
Soldiers defend the colony against attack by predatory enemies such as ants and are equipped with large jaws, sticky fluids or chemical spray to do so.
Alates
The future Queens & Kings
Alates are the winged reproductives that swarm out from the nest and establish new colonies. Male and females pair off and look for a suitable environment to mate. They are often confused with ant swarmers.