FORMOSAN TERMITES
PEST STATS:
Color: Yellowish brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Long, narrow, oval
Size: 1/2″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Hawaii, California, East Coast
Formosan termites are a voracious and aggressive subterranean species of termite originally from China.
HABITS:
Formosan termite colonies build extremely large and intricate nests whose walls are lined with mud.
THREATS:
It is extremely important to prevent a termite infestation since it is so difficult to control once a structure is infested. Consult a pest professional about formosan termite treatment.
PREVENTION:
Avoid pooling water near foundations by diverting water away with downspouts and gutters. Encapsulate crawl spaces to reduce humidity. Eliminate stored wood which comes in contact with soil especially around the wood portions of buildings.
DRYWOOD TERMITES
PEST DATA:
Color: Light brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Long, narrow, oval
Size: 3/8″ to 1″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Southeast, southern and Southwest US
HABITS:
Drywood termites do not live in the soil but excavate a nest directly in wood. Colonies can consist of up to 2,500 members and lack a worker caste with work being performed by the immature termites.
HABITAT:
They infest dry wood such as siding, eaves, wall framing and the beams in attics. They can also infest furniture and interior woodwork.
THREATS:
Serious damage to the structural timbers of buildings, woodwork and furniture is caused by drywood termites.
PREVENTION:
Seal all cracks and crevices in a structure so that termites can not enter and form a new colony. Ensure that firewood and scrap wood is stored at least 20 feet from the home.
CARPENTER ANTS
- PEST DATA:
- Size: 5/8″
- Shape: Oval
- Color: Range in color from red to black
- Legs: 6 Wings: Varies
- Antenna: Yes
- Region: Entire US
The tunnels that Carpenter Ants bore through wood when building their nests cause significant damage to homes and buildings requiring expensive repairs. There are several types of carpenter ants throughout the US and range in size from 1/4″ (about the width of a pencil) for a worker carpenter ant to 3/4″ (about the size of a quarter) for a queen carpenter ant. Each colony is established by a single, fertilized queen. She starts her nest in a cavity in wood, where she raises her first brood of workers. She feeds them saliva and does not leave the nest or feed herself during this time. These workers begin foraging for food to feed the next generation of the colony. The colony population grows very rapidly and can eventually produce 2,000 or more workers.
HABITS:
Carpenter ants do not eat the wood they remove during their nest-building activities, but deposit it outside entrances to the colony in small piles. The diet of carpenter ants includes living and dead insects, meat, fats and sugary foods of all kinds, including honeydew and nectar from plants.
HABITAT:
Carpenter ants build nests anywhere they can find water, moldy/damp wood, tree stumps, firewood or in house plants. They also build nests inside buildings, usually entering through wet, damaged wood.
THREATS:
Carpenter ants don’t carry disease, but when building a nest inside a home, Carpenter Ants dig smooth tunnels inside the wood. These tunnels damage the wood and potentially weaken the structure. This kind of damage can be very expensive to repair.
PREVENTION:
Eliminate standing water. Pests, such as ants, mosquitoes and termites, are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house since they provide a pathway into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or small openings around the foundation and that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home.
DAMPWOOD TERMITES
PEST DATA:
Color: Brownish
Legs: 6
Shape: Long, narrow, oval
Size: 1/2″ – 5/8″
Antennae: Yes
Region: Southwest US, southern Florida.
Dampwood termites infest wood with a high moisture content. They are normally larger in size than other termite species with the bodies of king and queen termites ranging in size from 1/2″ – 5/8″ long. They have two pairs of equally sized and shaped wings that extend beyond their abdomen. Nymphs and workers are between 5/8″ to 3/4″.
HABITS:
Dampwood and drywood termites, have no worker caste. Nymphs care for kings, queens and the soldier caste.
HABITAT:
Dampwood termites are less likely to be found in buildings because there is not enough moisture content in the wood.
PREVENTION:
Eliminate contact between the building and large sources of pooling water and snow drifts. Ensure that water and runoff from downspouts/gutters is sufficiently diverted aways from buildings.
SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES
PEST DATA:
Color: Creamy brown
Legs: 6
Shape: Long, narrow, oval
Size: 1/8
Antennae: Yes
Region: Found throughout U.S.
Subterranean termites build underground colonies consisting of up to 2 million members or sometimes in isolated areas above ground. Mud tubes are small tunnels that termites build to protect themselves from dry air, predators and also to obtain food . They organize themselves into worker, soldier and reproductive castes in order to divide work duties. Worker are blind, wingless, sterile, creamy white/gray colored with a darker rounded head. They eat wood, forage for food and build mud tubes, and care for young termites. Soldier are similar looking but have powerful black colored mandibles. Young reproductive termites or nymphs have wing buds while mature ones are winged.
HABITS:
Termites feed on wood and products containing cellulose. During the spring their sudden appearance in large numbers during the daytime is known as “swarming”. They then shed their wings and migrate to form new colonies.
HABITAT:
Subterranean termites need constant access to moist underground soil in order to survive.
THREATS:
Subterranean termites the most destructive species of insect. The damage that they inflict on wood buildings often goes unnoticed until timbers become structurally unsound. Nearly 1 in 5 homes have or will have termite activity.
PREVENTION:
Eliminate contact between the building and large sources of pooling water or snow drifts. Ensure water and runoff from downspouts and gutters is sufficiently diverted aways from buildings. Repair leaking pipes and drains. Repair moldy, wet wood. Never bury wood scraps or waste lumber in the yard. Maintain a 1″ barrier between structural wood and the surrounding soil. Encapsulate damp basements and crawl spaces to reduce humidity.