TERMITE INFO
& IDENTIFIER
Pest Educational Info / Termite Info & Identifier
Prevention
Subterranean termites superficially resemble ants; their "white ant" name is probably due to their similar size and social habits. Termites are insects that feed on wood and serve an important function in nature by converting dead trees into organic matter. Unfortunately, the wood in buildings is just as appetizing to termites and they cause serious damage to residential and commercial buildings as well.
Protection
When it comes to gaining access to your home, termites are amazingly proficient. The last thing you want to do is make their job easier.
Small holes in wood, crumbling drywall, sagging doors or floors, insect wings, and small mud tubes are some of the more obvious potential signs of termites. But even if you don't notice any of these signs, that doesn't necessarily mean termites, or the conditions that invite them, aren't there.
Regular inspections by a licensed pest professional are the only way to ensure your home truly is, and remains, free from termites and the damage that they cause. Qualified pest professionals have the training in termite biology and behavior to identify, prevent, and treat termite problems. A pest professional will perform a thorough inspection of your home to determine if, where, and how termites are getting in. They can also explain how to correct any conditions in your home that invite termites.
Identify Termites
Reticulitermes, Alate
Body: Dark Brown
Wings: Dark brownish-gray wings with a few visible hairs; front wings are slightly larger than the hind wings
Length: about 3/8 inch, including wings
Reticulitermes Nymph
Color: Pale
Nymphs will transform into workers, soldiers or winged reproductives
Reticulitermes, Secondary
Color: Generally Darker
Size: Larger than nymphs and workers
Reticulitermes, Soldier
Body: Yellowish-brown with large rectangular head
Head: Wider towards the front; equipped with large mandibles
Reticulitermes, Worker
Color: Creamy White
Body: About 1/4 inch
Workers are blind and wingless, yet they are the most encountered and the most destructive. Their bodies are soft, but they have hard mouth-parts for chewing.
Coptotermes, Alate
Color: yellow-brown
Body: 1/2 inches long (larger than most other subterranean varieties)
Wings: Pale and densely covered with tiny hairs
Swarming on humid evenings in Spring ensures the establishment of a new colony.
Coptotermes, Soldier
Body: Head is oval-shaped rather than elongated.
Wings: No
Soldiers are quite aggressive; their purpose is to defend the colony.
Heterotermes, Alate
Body: Dark Brown
Length: About 3/8 inch, including wings
Wings: Translucent with two dark veins
Heterotermes, alate are swarmers
Heterotermes, Soldier
Body: Length is about 1 1/2 times its width with a rectangular head
Notice the distinct mandibles.
