Termites play an important part in our ecosystem but they can be very destructive to humans. Billions of dollars are spent every year for termite infestations and repairs. At the same times, billions are lost from the damage caused by termites on trees, houses, buildings, furniture, and other man-made structures. Termites are not simple insects. Termites are grouped into two types, depending on the moisture content of their habitat. There are termites that dwell in damp woods while the other type prefers dry woods. Approximately 2,500 species of termites are known worldwide and only 45 species are known in the United States which belongs to genus Reticulitermes. One of them is the subterranean termites.

You can easily identify subterranean termites. These termites are creamy brown in color which has long narrow oval-shaped bodies. They also have straight pair of antennas and six legs. Subterranean termites can also have wings which are the same in length. Some may mistake subterranean termites for ants. Ants have smaller bodies, indifferent length of wings and elbowed antennas.

Subterranean termites are dry wood termites often found living under the grounds, cracks and crevices, damp woods or in moist areas. They live in colonies with millions of members in caste system. They build mud tunnels as a means of transportation.

Subterranean termites feed on anything with cellulose: wood, plants, paper, cardboard, and some plastics. Their digestive system contains bacteria and single-celled organisms which help them digest the cellulose they eat. The digested cellulose is converted to simple starches that provide energy and nutrition to these termites.

Subterranean termites live according to a caste system. They have queen and king termites are mainly responsible for reproduction and increasing the members of the colony. They have workers which are responsible for building mud tunnels to search for possible source of food. They have soldiers who are tasked to defend the colony from any harm. Lastly, swarmers are assigned to travel outside their colony in search for other possible habitats.

Here’s a quick look in at the life of a subterranean termite. First, the king and queen mate and lay up batches of eggs. After around 4 weeks, these eggs will hatch into larvae. After few feedings, larvae will become either workers, soldiers, nymphs or swarmers. Swarmers are only produced when the colony is big enough. The first batch of larvae will depend mainly on their kings and queens. The second batch of larvae will then depend on the first batch of workers. Workers feed the larvae, soldiers, and their kings and queens which are also responsible for maintaining the humidity of the colony. Workers have the most tasks inside the colony.

You can easily identify the kings and queens because they are the biggest among all of them. On the other hand, eggs are very small and they look like tiny jelly beans. Larvae are identified smaller than adult termites. Workers are white which have orange heads and sturdy mouthparts. Soldiers have their big heads and biting claws to help protect the colony from predators. Some of the nymphs may eventually develop into swarmers or secondary kings and queens. Soldiers defend their colonies by biting predators.

Subterranean termites in California are very hard to locate because they either dwell under the ground or inside crevices and cracks where they are almost impossible to see. They usually live away from their source of food which is why they build hidden mud tunnels in order to safety travel to and from their food source.

Subterranean termites are mostly found on the edges of stairways, corners of doorways, electrical conduits, small gaps and crevices, cracks on the wall and ceilings, along water pipes, basements and so on. You can usually tell that you have termite infestation when you find live termites, mud tubes and detached wings from swarmers. The presence of soil inside the corners of your house is also another sign. Damaged wood would look normal on the outside but may contain networks of tunnels on the inside. You can check for this by using knocking on wood to see if it is still solid and using a screwdriver or an ice pick to test if the wood is damaged or not.

Formosan termites are considered subterranean and are known for its destructive ability. Formosan subterranean termites got their name from Formosan, Taiwan where the species was originally discovered before they spread all over the world. They are often referred to as “super termites” because they can easily destroy wood structures in months. They can consume 400 grams of wood per day. In as fast as 3 months, you will see cracks in your house. It will take these termites only 3 – 5 years to completely destroy an average sized house.

You can prevent subterranean termites, especially super termites, from infesting your homes by proper sanitation, and using termite treatment prior to construction on the soil and materials. To keep termites away, remove any stagnant water or dead trees or barks off your property. A little bit of prevention and maintenance is a small price to pay to keep subterranean termites away.

I am sure that many of you are familiar with the term “Slowly but surely”. This is how dry wood termites can destroy homes.  It is known that dry wood termites are the most destructive pests of wood. Dry wood termites can cause up to billions of dollars in damages and cost of control each year in the U. S. alone. If cancer is the silent killer of the human body,   then the dry wood termites are the silent destroyer of homes.  It takes years for the damages to be discovered that is why it is important to have homes protected.

Subterranean and Dry Wood Termites

There are many different kinds of termites but the two similar ones are the subterranean and the dry wood termites. These two termites are similar because they both build their nest inside the wood. Their difference lie in how they adapt to their living quarters. Subterranean termites like to live in moist wood; while the dry wood termites need wood that is dry that is why they’re so comfortable in our homes.

A Look Inside A Dry Wood Termite Colony

If you look at dry wood termites’ pictures, their colony has a structure which consists of the workers, soldiers, nymphs, queen and the king. Their colonies are small, usually under 1000 individuals. The king, queen, and nymphs are all mobile and can move within the nest. Their nest consists of numerous galleries and chambers within the wood. It may take years for their presence to be noticed because they would often just stay in a single piece of wood and eat this part leaving the other areas untouched.

Termite Control

If you suspect that there is dry wood termite infestation in your home, a thorough examination by a pest control operator or building operator should be conducted. They’re the only ones who can accurately assess the extent of the infestation and find other dry wood termite colonies. Termite inspection is also necessary to find the best treatment options as no single method is best for all situations.

General Categories of Dry wood Termite Treatments

Dry wood termite treatment are divided into three categories, they are based on their areas of coverage: the first is whole-structure, compartmental, and local or “spot” application.

Whole-structure

The known method used for the whole-structure termite control is fumigation. It is a very technical process and should be done by professionals. Before the fumigation begins, homeowners should empty the house of animals and plants. Food items should be put in protective plastic containers or be totally removed to avoid contamination. People and animals should stay away from the structure for 1-2 days to allow for ventilation and treatment.

Compartmental

Heat treatments are used to remove the dry wood termites from portions of the house such as the bedroom, attic, and porch. Articles that are heat sensitive like clothes and documents are removed and the infested area is cordoned off with vinyl sheets. For the cold treatment, they use liquid nitrogen. With this type of treatment, the temperature drops to a level that is lethal to the dry wood termites. During this treatment the area must be observed for safe oxygen levels.

Local or Spot

There are many localized or spot treatments available that includes chemical and non-chemical options. There are also microwave devices available for dry wood termite control. Using the microwave is like cooking the termites inside the wood. High voltage electricity is another non-chemical option. Another protection to use is painting double coats of epoxy enamel paints seems to be the most effective protection against termites. Wood replacement is another remedial treatment although its effectiveness will depend on the accuracy of detection and extent and location of the infestation. Currently there are researchers being undertaken to develop biological control agents to control pest insects. These treatments may be available in the near future.

How to Dry Wood Effectively

Since dry wood termites put their nest inside the wooden structure, another preventive treatment one can look into is to buy hardwood lumber that is dried. Air-drying and kiln drying are the most economical way to remove water from the wood. What would happen if the wood will be dried? It increases the dimensional stability of the wood. It can also eliminate the decay and stain of the wood.

Since there are several dry wood termite treatments that one can consider, plan carefully which among the three general treatments will be used.  There would also be big variation in the effectiveness of each application. Read your guarantee effectively and consider an annual inspection service. Another important thing to consider is the reputation of the pest control company that will conduct it. Try to at least consider three companies, ask for referrals, check their prior work and the reliability of their services.

According to research, if you correctly locate the colony and get the chemical or non-chemical treatment to dry wood termites there is a ninety percent chance of success but  if the treatment fails additional call back treatment may lead to better results.