Termites

SCIENTIFIC NAME:                  Nasutitermes corniger

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CLASS/ORDER/FAMILY:           Insecta / Isoptera / Termitidae

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METAMORPHOSIS:                   Simple

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COLLOQUIAL:                           RAINFLY

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INTRODUCTION

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Nasutitermes termites (Cone-head termite) are similar to the family of the Dry-wood termite, but they only nest in large aerial nests.

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The termites enter our buildings from via winged alates in search of new areas to acquire food or expand their colony. 

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SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR INFESTATION

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• A subterranean termite infestation is usually recognized by the following 3 indicators:

 

               Ø   Mud tubes: The termite foraging tubes extend from the ground to the infested wood. The tubes provide shelter for                                             the foraging termites. The tubes are flattened and muddy looking in appearance.

               Ø   Alates / Swarmers: Winged termites emerging indoors or outside from swarming tubes immediately adjacent to the                                           structure are often the first sign of a subterranean infestation. 

               Ø   Wood damage: A common indication of subterranean infestation is the presence of dark areas or blisters in                                                         wood flooring. However, subterranean termite damage can go unnoticed because the termites only eat the spring                                               wood leaving the grain and exterior surface intact.

 

BIOLOGY

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• Alates (swarmers) that leave the nest are new termite kings and queens that leave the parent colony to start their own. Shortly after landing they lose their wings, burrow into soil and begin mating. First batch of eggs (6-12) are tended to by the king and queen. However, are subsequently cared for by other offspring as the nest increases.

• The new king termite remains virtually unchanged after losing his wings. However, as the new queen begins to produce eggs, her abdomen grows larger with the development of her ovaries. As the queen’s abdomen stretches, the segments of her body pull farther apart, showing the white membranes between the abdominal segments, giving her a striped appearance.

• Their colonies are located in the soil and through the use of foraging tunnels created by the workers. When a food source is located, they release a pheromone trail to recruit other termites to the feeding site.

• The caste system for subterranean termites include:

               Ø   Primary reproductive: Initial alate King and Queen.

               Ø   Secondary reproductive: Originate if the primary king and queen dies. They are light in colour and larger than                                                      workers and never develop wings.

               Ø   Workers: This caste is responsible for all labour in the colony. They are the termites found in infested wood.                                                          They care for the young, repair the nest, build foraging tunnels, locate food, feed and groom the other castes and                                              each other.

               Ø   Soldiers: They function as defenders of the colony and provide protection against all intruders. When foraging tubes                                            or galleries are broken into. Soldiers differ from workers in that they are slightly larger and have an enlarged, hard                                                yellowish-brown head that has been modified for defensive purposes. The head has a pair of very large mandibles                                              or jaws that are made to puncture, slice and kill enemies

 

HABITS

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• Although subterranean termites can chew through and damage many materials, they can only obtain nutrition from cellulose

• worker termites feed directly on wood or other cellulose material then store the food in their gut. They then return to the nest and feed the immature termites, soldiers, and reproductives.

• Subterranean termites are constantly at risk of drying out; this is why they must live in the soil. Soil has the capacity to hold water for a long period of time and keep the colony moist.

• Once a source of wood has been located, the termites establish larger, more permanent utility or working tubes.

• Sometimes subterranean termites build another tube that runs from the structural wood back down to the ground. These tubes are called drop or suspended tubes. They are often lighter in colour than the utility tubes because they contain more of the wood fibre taken from the structure. 

 

CONTROL

Treatments are to be done by trained professional

 

• If any of the signs of damage / infestation are seen. Contact Rehoboth Ltd immediately 627 -0130 for FREE consultation to determine entry points and levels of infestation.

• Traditional termite control also requires specialized equipment and the application.

• Local treatment with pesticides or other means is prudent where infestations are accessible, isolated and confined to a piece of furniture, picture frame, etc.

• Localized infestations may be treated via injection or surface treatment with pesticides which are labelled for these termites.