When you think of spring, you probably envision blooming flowers and
the return of warmer weather. But in the pest control industry, spring
marks the beginning of peak pest season, when most insects are coming
out of their winter hiding spots, mating – and in some cases – finding
their way into our homes. Unfortunately, one of the most common
springtime pests is also one of biggest threats to our homes and
properties – termites.
Termites have been around for more than 120 million years. They are
social insects and live in colonies that are usually located in the
ground or in wood. Termites feed on the cellulose in wood and wood
by-products, such as paper. They are estimated to cause $5 billion in
property damage every year. What’s worse, this damage is not typically
covered by homeowner’s insurance, and – because they tend to remain out
of sight – their damage can go unnoticed for many years, until serious
issues arise. Therefore, it’s important to understand the life cycle of
termites, and the signs that a colony has taken up residence in your
home.
Termite Life Cycle
There are more than 2,000 known termite species in the world, with at
least 50 species occurring in the U.S. Termites are typically
classified into three groups based on the location of the colony –
subterranean, drywood and dampwood. A colony is made up of workers,
soldiers and swarmers. Workers maintain the colony, construct or repair
the nest, and forage for food for the colony. Soldiers are sterile, and
their main role is to protect the colony. Neither workers nor soldiers
have wings.
Swarmers, also known as reproductives, have two pair of wings, which
lie flat over the abdomen when not in use. In the springtime, after the
last freeze – usually when temperatures reach about 70 degrees – the
young adult male and female swarmers emerge from their nests in large
groups. The female termites release ‘mating pheromones,’ much like
perfume, to entice male termites. Once the male locates an alluring
female, they break off their wings, symbolizing that they are a couple.
The new couple then select a nest location, mate, and become king and
queen of a new colony. The queen has been known to live for 30 or more
years.
Depending on the species, it can take three to four years before a
newly founded colony reaches maturity and produce its own swarmers. In
the first year, the queen can lay anywhere between zero and 22 eggs. So
at the end of the first year, a subterranean colony may contain as many
as 75 individuals, whereas drywoods may contain only a dozen. Because of
this, it can take many years before a colony is large enough to cause
visible damage to the wood they infest.
In colder regions where termites do not typically survive the winter,
new colonies can be started in one of two ways; when infested wood is
introduced to a new location, or by division. Division typically occurs
when a new food source is located and a subcolony is formed to exploit
the source. Eventually, this subcolony can then produce the needed
reproductives from nymphs (young termites), and completely break off as
its own colony.
Signs of Termites
Swarms (and the shed wings left behind) are often one of the only
outwardly visible signs of the existence of termites. Because of this,
many people are under the misconception that termites are only a problem
in the spring. However, some termite species – including subterranean
termites – can remain active (though out of sight) year-round,
especially in warmer climates. In these cases, termites can be at work,
eating away at wood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
With the exception of conehead termites, most termite species cannot
crawl on the open ground like ants and other pests. Instead, they build
mud tubes to travel between their colony and food sources. These mud
tubes are another sign homeowners can use to identify the presence of
termites near their homes. Homeowners should also be on lookout for
cracked or bubbling paint and wood that sounds hollow when tapped. If
you do see signs of termites in or near your home, it’s important to
work with A1 Exterminators to treat the infestation before serious damage is done. Termites are not a pest that can be treated with DIY measures.