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Termites

There are two main types of termites in Central California Subterranean Termites and Drywood Termites. Termites eat cellulose which is found in wood. They have protozoa in their gut which has the necessary enzymes to allow the termites to digest the wood. No wood is completely resistant to termite attack. The heartwood of the California redwood and a few other species are initially resistant. The sapwood is never resistant.

Termites are social insects like ants and bees, dividing the work responsibilities to benefit the colony. Termite swarmers are often confused with winged ants. The easiest way to tell them apart is one of the following thee ways. First, ants have elbowed antenna; termites have straight antenna. Second, ants have a pinched waist: termites do not have a pinched waist. Third, the ant forewing is longer than the hind wing; all four wings of a termite are the same length. Termite vs Ant Picture

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean Termites are the single greatest economic pest in the United States. Subterranean Termites require a sufficient amount of moisture and therefore must frequently return to the soil.

In a Subterranean Termite colony there are four castes, or types of termites. The castes are primary reproductive, supplementary reproductive, worker and soldier. Workers and soldiers are cream colored and approximately ¼ inch long. Reproductives are dark chestnut to black and 1/3 to 1/2 inch long.

The worker caste is responsible for all the labor in the colony. They care for the young, repair the nest, build foraging tunnels, locate food and groom the other castes. The soldier caste is the defenders of the colony. They defend the colony against invasion from ants and foreign termites. The reproductives are the winged swarmers or “alates”, that eventually will become kings and queens of new colonies.

Subterranean Termites forage for food both above and below ground. Foraging can extend to an area approximately the size of a football field if a plentiful food source is not discovered close to the colony. When they forage above ground they must build shelter tubes to prevent dehydration. These tubes are constructed of mud and fecal material. They act as highways from the colony to the food source.

Subterranean Termite reproductives will form wings and swarm (fly) from the nest in the spring and fall. Swarming is the method Subterranean Termites us to establish new colonies. Swarmers pair up during flight, then land and search for a place to begin a new colony. The new king and queen excavate a small chamber in soft soil and mate. The new queen will lay her first small (6-12) batch of eggs in a few days to weeks. Initially the king and queen will tend to the young. As the colony grows the workers will take over all the duties of the colony. Reproductive will also begin to lay additional eggs. A mature colony, 4-6 years old will begin to send out swarmers and the entire process will repeat.

Drywood Termites

As the name indicates Drywood Termites live in relatively dry wood. They do not required contact with the soil. The size of a Drywood Termite colony is much smaller than a Subterranean Termite colony.

The castes, or types of termites inside the colony, are similar to Subterranean Termites. There are primary reproductives, supplementary reproductives and soldiers. There is no separate worker caste. The functions of the worker caste, grooming and providing food, is performed by the young reproductives and soldiers.

Drywood Termites are larger than Subterranean Termites. There are other minor differences in the mandibles, antennae and wings, however identification should be confirmed by a professional.

Drywood termites live in their food source. For this reason they must create small holes that they occasionally kick out the fecal pellets. These pellets are dry and hard with rounded ends, six ridges and six concave sides. Drywood Termite pellets will accumulate below the kick holes.

In Northern California, Drywood Termite swarms typically occurs in June and July. Male and female reproductives pair up and attempt to find a suitable nesting site. Drywood Termites seek out a small niche where they can get a foot hold and gnaw a small pear shaped hole where the queen will lay her eggs. Since they do not have to return to the soil it is not uncommon to have multiple colonies within the same structure. The first swarm occurs about the fourth year of the colonies existence.