Termites Types – Do You Know Your Termites?
What are the main termites types? Do you know your termites? You need to know some basic facts about these insects if you are to protect your home and yard against unwanted invaders. This article will discuss the three most prominent types of termites found in the United States.
There are three basic types of termites: subterranean, dry wood, and Formosan. All three derive their food supply from cellulose which is found in wood and wood products. All three kinds also live in highly organized and socialized colonies. They also all share a common enemy – ants. Subterranean termites tend to live in the soil beneath your house and then come up through a complex system of tunneling to the ground for feeding. Experts estimate that these pests account for some 95% of the damage done by termites each year which range in the neighborhood of three billion dollars a year.
Dry wood colonies live above the soil in dead trees, wood in houses and wood furniture. It is estimated that it may take up to two years to notice damage done by a colony after it has taken up residence. Formosan are late comers to the United States and are primarily in the Southern part of the country. They are subterranean pests which threaten homes and forests but are still distinguished from their underground cousins. Unlike the dry wood kind which only inhabits dead or dying trees, these insects from East Asia, which are believed to have been brought to this country by the U.S. Military after WWII, attack healthy trees.
It is a common misconception that termites are winged creatures. Only a certain segment of the colony actually sprout wings and fly – what is called swarming, and these are usually referred to as alates. The purpose of the swarm is to find mates and set up new colonies.
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