Homeowners Guide to Pest Management: Termites
More than 365,000 homes in the United States are involved in a fire each year. More than 600,000 U.S. homes suffer termite damage totaling over $1.5 billion annually. That is more damage than is caused by all fires, storms and earthquakes combined. More than 2 million homes require termite treatment each year. Homeowners insurance can help recover losses from fires, storms and earthquakes, but it is almost impossible to carry insurance against termite infestation.
How Termites Survive
There are more than 2,000 species of termites. Only about 70 species are frequent enough invaders of humans' wooden structures to be called pests. The most damaging are roughly 20 species we call "subterranean" termites because of their nesting and foraging habits. Two of these, the Eastern Subterranean Termites and the Western Subterranean Termites, are by far the most common, widest distributed and most damaging in the U.S. The following description of biology refers to these two closely related species.
Termite's feed on cellulose, a complex chemical in plant cell walls, and they are very important in the natural decomposition of fallen trees, leaves and other plant products. Subterranean termites build their nests in the soil or in the sides of trees or poles, and they rely mainly on the soil for their source of moisture.
A subterranean termite colony is large (60,000 to 1.5 million termites), and made up of several "castes", each with distinct functions and behaviors. 
These include reproductives (the queen, king, and winged swarmers), soldiers, and workers. Worker termites are small (0.1-0.25 in. long), creamy white insects. Soldiers are larger (0.2-0.4 in. long), about 1/20th as numerous as workers, and have a large, dark head, with long, strong, sharp pointed jaws which they use to attack intruders. Property owners seldom see the worker or soldier termites, but in the spring or fall they may see swarming "winged reproductives." This form of termite can easily be confused with a winged ant unless you look closely.
Swarming Termites Lead to Exploding Populations
After a termite colony reaches a certain population level, usually more than 10,000 for northern temperate subterranean termites, winged (alate) reproductive "swarmers" are produced and leave the colony in a "swarm." A swarm is a mixed group of roughly 50% male and 50% female reproductives which leave the nest at the same time, in a short period of 5-45 minutes. This is usually triggered by a rain, in the Spring (warming temperatures and lengthening days), and occurs usually around dusk or dawn. Large colonies may release swarmers in several pulse-like groups over two or more days when conditions are right.
Swarmers fly upward at first and often are attracted to light. After landing, each female breaks her own wings, raises her abdomen and emits a pheromone which attracts males of her species. If a suitable male finds her, they touch each other, and he breaks off his own wings. The pair then "run in tandem" for a short time before searching out a suitable piece of wood in which to begin a nest. Their first brood soon takes over the colony maintenance and food gathering, and the queen reverts to only producing eggs. The pair are mated for life. The queen can produce roughly 1,000 eggs per day by her fourth year of life. If either the king or queen dies, other members of the colony can change into reproductives and replace the lost member of the pair.
How To Tell Termites From Winged Ants
- All termites have a "thick waist" where their abdomen is joined to their middle body region (thorax); but all ants have a "pinched in waist" at that point
- All termites have antennae that look like a "string of beads"; but all ants have distinctly "elbowed" antennae.
- Termite swarmers have two pairs of long narrow, wings with very few clearly visible veins, and both the front and back pair are nearly equal in size and length. Winged ants have two pairs of wings with several distinct cross veins, shaped like long triangles, and the back pair is much shorter than the front pair
| Preventive Measures You Can Take | |
| There are several things you can do as a home owner to help prevent or avoid termite infestations including: | |
How Termites Find Their Way Into Your Home
Subterranean termites build nests in the ground. They search ("forage") for wood (food) farther and farther from their nest as their colony numbers grow. 
Foragers may make underground tunnels or above ground "shelter tubes" of mud, feces and debris used to search for new food sources and to connect their nest to their food. They can enter a building without direct wood contact with the soil through such tubes. Termites can enter buildings through cracks, expansion joints, foam insulation below ground, hollow bricks or concrete blocks, or through spaces around plumbing. They can find their way into a structure through an opening as small as 1/32nd of an inch. Any building, whether constructed with a slab, basement or crawl space foundation, can be infested by termites.
In certain areas of the country you may encounter different types of termites, such as Formosan, damp wood, or drywood termites. If your home is infested with one of these termites, it may require different or more extensive treatment procedures including wood treatment or fumigation.
Look For The Signs
Several possible signs of a termite infestation which a homeowner might see include:
- Pencil sized diameter, or larger, mud tubes running across bare concrete or masonry between the soil and any wooden part of your building
- Thin, small, papery wings, all the same size and shape, 3/8 - 1/2 in. long, on your window sill, counter top or floor (especially if it is late Spring and there has been a recent rain).
- Thin, "bubbled" or distorted areas of paint on wooden surfaces, especially if these feel cool to the touch.
- Any wooden building parts (especially if they are important support structures) beginning to sag unexpectedly.
A thorough inspection by a termite control specialist is the first and most important step in protecting your property. "Experienced" eyes can locate the specific areas in your structure where termite attack is likely to occur. Special tools such as moisture meters, sound amplifiers or specially trained dogs may be used by some inspectors. If a termite infestation is found, the specialist will design a treatment plan for your property that will control any current infestation and establish a chemical barrier around the structure to inhibit further termite entry.
Physical barriers, such as a fine stainless steel mesh, a plastic film, or specific sized basaltic sand layer have been shown to be effective at preventing subterranean termite infestations.
New baiting techniques have begun to be used which offer the treatment technician, and the property owner, more options. At least three chemical and one biological bait are available. Although several of these baits are labeled, some aspects of these new systems still await more extensive field experience. Ask your termite technician or pest control company, if you want further information.
| Some Termite Trivia | |
| or even their own thorax. Variations in frequency and pattern of such "tapping" seem to constitute "messages" which seem to be understood by (at least elicit responses by) other colony members.
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Two Termite Species To Watch Out For
Formosan Termites
Formosan termites are an exotic species accidentally introduced to the U.S. from China and other far Eastern countries. 
Their habits are very much like those of our common subterranean species discussed above. They are in the same family of termites, but they belong to a different genus. They are a little bigger and are much more aggressive invaders, forming larger colonies (often 2 million or more). Formosan termites can establish secondary colonies in very moist wood of upper stones of buildings (several stories above ground) and do not need soil contact if there is a nearly constant moisture source. They have been reported from 11 states including: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Their distribution wilt probably continue to be restricted to southern areas because their eggs will not hatch below about 20C (68F). If you think you might have an infestation of this species, contact a knowledgeable expert in your local pest control firm, or the entomology department of a university, or NPCA to confirm the identification of specimens.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites live in wood which has a fairly low moisture content and is not in contact with the soil or any other moisture source. They must get their needed moisture from the wood they live in, so they are usually found in humid coastal or subtropical areas. They can be transported to other areas in infested furniture, picture frames, decorative wooden objects, or wood for construction. Colonies of these termites are relatively small (fewer than 3,000 individuals), and they increase slowly, requiring several years before any swarmers are produced. They do not build mud "shelter tubes" which are typical of most species of subterranean termites. Their damage is usually localized, but quite a bit of damage can result from multiple colonies in one building or structure. Drywood termites can be successfully eliminated by a variety of methods which would not be effective against subterranean species. Heating, freezing, focusing microwaves, or high voltage electric charges on or into all or a portion of the infested structure, or wooden object(s), can kill off whole colonies. Batch fumigation of infested wooden items can also be effective against these termites.
How To Select A Termite Treatment Firm
Do not panic! In most cases, significant termite damage will not occur in a short period of time. But do not delay your decision indefinitely; damage has already started and termites will continue to damage the structure.
- Verify that the firm you select is a member of your state pest control association and the National Pest Control Association.
- Compare written proposals. Seek value, avoid making decisions based only on price. For example, a firm which does a careful survey, and can (will) show you the pest, location and extent of damage before they quote a price is more apt to do an effective job than another, even if the second firm’s price is 1/3 - 1/2 lower. You usually get what you pay for.
- Ask friends and neighbors to recommend a firm that they have been satisfied with in the past. Check with the Better Business Bureau for company performance record (complaints).
