Pest Library

Characteristics

Most species of subterranean termites in North America belong to the widespread genus Reticulitermes species, Coptotermes species and Heterotermes species.

Subterranean termites can be blamed for the destruction of structures since they have the ability to create structural infestations. The presence of annual flights can indicate that an infestation may be at hand. Just like any other termite species, their colony contains three primary castes system. The first caste is the reproductives that consist of a king and a queen, alates, nymphs, and supplementary reproductives. The second and third are the soldiers and workers. Subterranean termite soldiers can be identified by their smaller size and the relative width of their pronotum.

Habitat

To build their colonies, these termites dig their way through underground. They can create elaborate tunnels and chambers that are difficult to find. To create their tunnels, their workers will construct protective tunnels that are made of mud and saliva so that they can push themselves above ground and into wood. While they consume wood, they will replace the eaten wood with soil to maintain the humidity. A sign that a wall is suffering from an infestation is when the presence of mud tunnels are found on the walls of foundation of a home.

Behavior

Subterranean termites can create 100,000 to 1,000,000 termites that can forage up to 150 feet in search of food. They are expert in creating networks of interconnected feeding sites that can be placed beneath or above the soil surface. Termites can easily gain entry through a house by even a small crack of joints in the foundation. They can easily enter a home by creating mud tubes along the foundation walls. These mud tubes or shelter tubes that they create are similar to highways that connects them to their food source and their main home.

While the workers are responsible for creating tunnels and gather food, the soldiers are responsible for defending the colony against possible invaders. Their enemy consists of ants and other termites from other colonies. Soldiers cannot gather food on their own, but they will need the workers to tend for them and give them their needed nutrients.

Food

Termites consume cellulose, which is the main structural component of plant cells. Since wood contains cellulose, homes are vulnerable to termite attack. Subterranean termites are also able to eat non-wood material, especially when wood is not present. Unlike ants, finding a colony of termites can be difficult since these pests will consume wood while hiding. They are rarely seen in the open, unless the infestation is already severe, and the consumed wood is noticeable.

Life Cycle

Flight season differ in species for the subterranean termites. But most alates swarm at night. After their short flight, the alates will shed their wings, and a pair of termite will begin to search for a nesting site. Most alates who swarm will not survive and may not even be able to find a nesting site. Only a small number of them will be able to survive and create a colony. Once the new king and queen find a suitable nesting site, they will create a royal chamber where the eggs are laid in a moist site near wood.

The first hatched eggs will produce workers that will tend for the next batch of workers, soldiers and alates. Some worker may even become secondary reproductives. Unlike ants, the lifespan of a termite colony can last for many years, especially when their conditions are favorable. They do not rely on a single queen and king since they can produce reproductives and secondary reproductives. Even when the first queen and king dies, their colony can survive since their secondary reproductives can take their place as the new queen and king. In the case of a colony having only a single pair of alates, this pair can still create a mature colony in just five to ten years.

Other Information and Tips

To effectively and safely treat your home from termites, it is best to call a termite control professional to perform this task for you since control measures for termites will include a variety of tools, procedures and the use of residual chemicals that are not recommended for homeowners to use.

Photo by Agricultural Research Service, via Wikimedia Commons / resized from original