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Destructive Termites in upper New York
state
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Identification of the main destructive
species
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It is critical to identify the species of destructive termites
to formulate an appropriate control program. The main destructive
termite species in upper New York state is the Eastern subterranean
termite.
CONTENTS: learn about this destructive species of termite - tips
on identification of the timber damage caused - find out when these
termites swarm in your local area and how to identify the swarmers,
workers and soldiers - learn of their fascinating biology, life-cycle
and behavioural aspects - and receive professional tips on how best
protect your home from the world's best timber recycler .... subterranean
termites. |
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Eastern
subterranean termites
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Area of Distribution: The Eastern subterranean termite is the most
common and widely distributed termite in the eastern states of USA,
and is known to cause severe damage to homes in Albany and Troy regions.
Identification of Swarmers and Soldiers: Swarming generally occurs
during the spring but occasionally a few smaller swarms may occur
during the summer. Swarming most often occurs during the morning
following a warm rain shower whereby the soil temperature is around
70°F. |
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Identification of Timber Damage
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Eastern subterranean termites are highly destructive to douglas fir
and other common building timbers. They can rapidly eat out the internal
sections of structural timbers - devouring mainly the spring wood,
and preferring to leave the harder summer wood sections.
As`a result, infested timbers are often left as a thin shell with
a honey-comb of layered hollow sections (as illustrated) packed with
moist soil. These termites love a moist dark damp environment - it
is essential for their survival - discussed in detail under Biology
of Subterranean Termites - later on. |
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Destructive nature of Eastern subterranean
termites
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| The Eastern subterranean termite is a serious economic timber pest
causing millions of dollars of damage throughout the areas where
it is located. It is estimated that more than 1 in 5 homes in the
high activity areas, been or will be attacked at sometime by these
voracious little insects. |
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The life-cycle
of subterranean termites
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Biology of eastern subterranean
termites
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Within a termite nest there are members of different castes, each
with a different role to perform and all interdependent upon each
other for survival of the colony. These include the queen, king,
the winged reproductive (young kings and queens), soldier and worker
termites.
The king, queen and worker termites. |
Worker termites - thin external skin. |
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The queen termite is an egg laying machine; her body is
enormous compared to her off-spring; she can live more than
25 years and produce more that 2,000 eggs a day. |
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The king and queen live in a central chamber and are tended
by the workers. |
The workers are by far the
largest caste in the eastern subterranean termite colony and
the one that does the damage; they are a creamy translucent
colour, soft bodied and carry out all work in the nest, including
gathering food (timber and other cellulose); constructing tunnels;
repairing and enlarging the colony nest; grooming each other
and feeding the soldiers, the king, queen and also caring for
the young nymphs until mature.
IDENTIFICATION: Eastern subterranean worker termites are small
in size, about half the size of match-head or 1/8" long and
are soft bodied insects. They have no wings, are sterile, blind
and work 24 hours a day for their entire 2 year life span. |
The soldiers are the defenders
of the colony, particularly against marauding ants - with
whom they have engaged in a relentless war lasting 250 million
years.
IDENTIFICATION: the soldiers have an orange coloured rectangular
armoured head with mandibulate pinchers which they use to crush
the ants. On their forehead is a fontanelle (frontal gland
pore) used to emit a sticky latex to ensnare the ants. Its
mandibles are curved at about 70~90 degrees. The body of the
Eastern subterranean termite is flat and almost as wide as
the head, with the width of approx 1/32”.
The soldier termite is usually the first to be seen in large
numbers when any active termite workings (mud shelter tubes
or damaged timber) are opened. Soldier termites will rush out
to guard the opening whilst worker termites repair the breach. |
The swarmers (reproductives)
are called "alates"
and are commonly seen when they swarm during daylight; they
have eyes; are poor fliers but are swept along by the wind;
they land, drop their wings, find a mate to become king and
queen of a new termite colony.
IDENTIFICATION: The eastern subteranean termite swarmers are
about 3/8" long (including wings) with a dark brown body
and a small fontanelle (frontal gland pore) on its head. Their
wings are brownish grey with two dark solid veins along the
forefront of the front wings. The front wing is distinctly
larger than hind wing.
WHEN DO THEY SWARM? In the northern part of their range, swarming
takes place in the spring, but without rain. In the southern
areas, swarming usually follows rain. The swarmers are emitted
in their thousands when a mature termite nest is large and
well established.
Eastern subterranean termites swarm in large numbers over a
wide area to find a mate from another colony nest to start
up a new colony. A suitable location for nesting should provide
moisture and a readily available timber food source close by.
Colony nest development is slow in the first few months, with
the egg-laying capacity of the new queen termite peaking after
a few years, producing up to 10,000 offspring a year. The queen
may live for many years and workers up to two years. The swarmers
are emitted in their thousands when a mature termite nest is
large and well established. Swarmers are usually produced after
this period and are an indication a large termite nest is in
the vicinity, a sure danger sign and a warning that professional
protection is required.
Several years are required before the termite colony reaches
the typically mature size. In some locations an Eastern subterranean
termite colony can contain several million termites foraging
over a wide area (up to 12,000 square feet) and actively feeding
on trees and freestanding poles as well as buildings and other
timber structures.
The colony nests of Eastern subterranean termites are usually
located in the ground below the frost line, but above the water
table. Mud galleries or "shelter tubes" are constructed
across hard objects in order to gain access to timber food
sources.
Eastern subterranean termites constantly search for new food
sources. They are known to enter buildings through cracks in
concrete flooring or to travel under parquetry or tile flooring
through gaps of less than 1/16" wide.
Where moisture regularly collects inside the wall or other
cavities of a building, say from faulty plumbing or broken
roof tiles, the Eastern subterranean termite can develop a
subsidiary colony nest which may not require contact with the
ground to ensure it's survival. |
They build a central colony nest from which they construct
underground tunnels that radiate within a 100 yard radius from
a central colony nest in search of a timber (cellulose) food
source.
The picture on the left shows a termite inspector examining
an above ground termite subsidiary nest built inside
a wall cavity of a home.
Termites often build such nests if moisture is allowed
to regularly collects inside the wall cavity, say from
leaking pipes, shower recess, faulty plumbing, guttering,
broken roof tiles, etc.
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Termites travel in humidified mud-shelter tubes
or galleries...
The picture on the left shows a mud shelter tube that
subterranean termites have constructed over a solid
object, in this case, a brick foundation wall in the
sub-floor of a cottage.
Subterranean termites travel in these mud shelter tubes
as protection from predators, sun-burn, dehydration
and to maintain a high humidity environment which is
essential for their survival.
Eastern subterranean termites are highly secretive,
preferring to enter a building through areas inaccessible
to inspection, such as, through in-fill patios, fire
heaths, expansion joints and cracks in concrete slab
(on-ground) flooring.
Eastern subterranean termites can pass through a 1/8" crack
or an expansion joint (eating through the rubber compound)
between adjoining concrete on ground flooring. They
can also travel under parquetry and floor tiles to
get to the wall framing timbers. |
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Eastern subterranean termites
symbiotic digestive system
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Only the worker termite caste can digest timber by the use
of symbiotic protozoa in their gut. Worker termites feed their
partly digested semi-liquid food, regurgitated from their mouth
or passing from their anus, to the other termites, a process
known as trophallaxis.
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Eastern subterranean termites have a well ordered
social system with amazing engineering capabilities
and an acute survival instinct; they obtain moisture
from the soil and moist decaying timber, and communicate
using pheromone signals.
The mutual feeding, constant grooming and close social
habits of termites are used to advantage in modern
termite control baiting systems. |
Certain hi-tech termite baits are now on the market that have
a delayed lethal effect on termites which readily pass on the
bait to other termites in the central colony nest during the
mutual grooming and feeding.
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Eastern subterranean termites need to maintain a high
level of humidity and temperature (75 to 95F) in their
central colony nest.
Eastern subterranean termites eat through the centre
of susceptible timbers leaving nothing but a thin veneer
of timber and/or paint. They will pack mud in cracks
and joints in timber to prevent loss of humidity and
resultant dehydration. |
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As noted above, termites constantly groom and feed each other. A
valuable technique for the termite controller is to instal and monitor
a termite baiting system next to any live activity found in and around
the premises where termite foraging is most likely to occur. Subsequent
inspections (preferably monthly) may reveal dead or sick worker termites,
they change colour to a mottle look, and spread of the termite bait
to other termites leading to elimination of the colony.
The termite baits are designed to be non-repellant to the termites
and has a unique delayed effect. Time enough to be passed onto the
other termites in the colony including the queen, with a sufficient
dosage leading to the elimination of the entire colony. This process
is explained in detail in the Termite Control section of this website. |
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If You find these termites do NOT
disturb them
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| Eastern subterranean termites have acute survival instincts. If
they are shaken up or disturbed, the termites often will abandon
the associated area and move on to secretly cause damage in other
areas in the building. If you find eastern subterranean termites
in or around your property, it is essential that you do NOT disturb
them and promptly arrange for a professional inspection and application
of a termite bait to the live termites, if present in abundance. |
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Learn about other common household
pests
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termite
control