Termite Facts & Information
The termite belongs to the order of the roaches called Blattodea. It has been known for decades that termites are closely related to cockroaches, predominately the wood eating species of roach. Until recently, the termites were the order Isoptera, which is now the suborder. This new taxonomical shift is supported by data and research to confirm the new comparison that termites are actually social cockroaches. This suborder of Isoptera has over 2,600 species worldwide, and 50 species that call North America their home. The heaviest populated areas are located in the tropic and sub tropic regions.
TYPES OF Termites
Dampwood Termites
Dampwood termites are much larger then the subterranean termites.
- Swarmers: The swarmers (winged termites) can be 25 mm long, including their wings.
- Soldiers: The soldiers can be as large as 20 mm.
- Immature: The immature termites can be as much as 20 mm long. The immature termites do the work in the colony.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termite soldiers have large mandibles (mouthparts) with teeth and their pronotum is as wide, or wider, than the head. Also, most drywood termite soldiers and workers are larger than the soldiers and workers in subterranean termite colonies.
Formosan Termites
Formosan termites are social insects with three distinct forms (castes):
- the wingless or winged reproductives (alates)
- the protector soldiers
- the workers
Since Formosan termite workers look very much like workers of other termite groups, the soldiers and winged alates are the castes that are useful to provide a correct identification.
Since differentiation between Formosan termites and other termite groups is not easy, it is best to contact your pest management professional for help with providing an accurate identification.
The head of a Formosan termite soldier is oblong, whereas indigenous subterranean termites have rectangular heads. Formosan termite soldiers are also more aggressive when defending the nest than native subterranean termite soldiers.
Subterranean Termites
Identification factors for subterranean termites are:
- Alates (swarmers): Dark-brown to black in color, about ¼ to ½ inch long with two pairs of wings that are very close to being equal in length.
- Workers: No wings, about ¼ inch or less in length and cream colored.
- Soldiers: No wings, large mandibles (jaws), termite colony defenders, are creamy-white in color, but their head is often brownish in color.
- Appearance of damaged wood: Since subterranean termites build their nests underground, damaged wood usually has an accumulation of soil or mud within the tunnels of the wood they are eating. Since subterranean termites only eat the softwood, damaged wood appears to be layered, the result of the workers not eating the hardwood portion. In addition, subterranean termites feed “with the grain” rather than across the grain, as do drywood termites.
- Location of the nest: As their group name suggests, the nest is usually found below ground. Nests may be found above ground, but only when sufficient moisture conditions are available to support the above-ground nest and the colony is old and well established.
Termite Life Cycle
The development of a termite is called an incomplete metamorphosis. This is scientifically known as hemimetabolus life cycles. The termite’s life cycle can result in three different types of termite or caste types. The three types consist of reproductive, workers, and soldiers. The life cycle contains an egg, young termite larvae or termite nymph, older nymph, worker, soldier, pseudergate, drone, and queen. This is a typical social insect system allowing for proper labor division. Once a termite egg amongst countless thousands of others hatches, it is then called termite larva or larvae. The larva can become one of the three castes: worker, soldier, or a secondary or supplementary reproductive termite. This happens based on social, environmental, and termite pheromone cues. The larva then molts until it reaches maturity, which usually takes three molts. The larva can become a worker or soldier and its life cycle is over until it dies. The larva also could become a reproductive alate or secondary reproductive, where it goes on to reproduce and become a king or queen termite for another colony. The queen has the longest life, spanning on average from 25 years. The other types of termite’s life span vary from 12 to 24 months.
- All termites are paurometabolous, which means they have many nymph stages
- Can range from 5-13 nymph instars till they reach full maturity
- The stages of development are: Egg -> Nymph -> Adult (which can be secondary reproductive, worker, or soldier)
