What Do Termites Look Like – A Quick Guide to Identification
Termites are said to be one of the oldest living insects alive today, having descended from the cockroach some 250,000,000 years ago. These insects live in large colonies that may number up to a quarter to a half million members. They are highly organized into a strict social order in which roles and duties are regulated. So what do termites look like? They have evolved a long ways from their distant ancestor. Here is a quick guide to help you identify them.
Most termites in the United States range in color from clear to white to black. They have six short legs, a soft body, and white, beaded wings. There are different social groupings of termites and most likely the ones we see the most of are the workers and the alates. The workers are the ones who do the most damage for they digest wood. They have soft bodies, round heads, and no wings. Their eyes are undeveloped which means they are blind for all practical purposes. Their color varies from white to grayish white. Workers have the responsibility for getting food and water for the colony and for doing the constructing of tunnels for movement and for waste disposal. Sometimes, they assist the warriors in defending the colony against invading ants.
Alates are the termites you see in the spring which are oftentimes referred to as swarming termites. They have wings and swarm to find mates and go off with them to start new colonies. Their body color varies from yellow brown to black. These are the only termites with fully developed eyes and wings which they shed when they touch down on the ground to mate and to build their colony.
Finally, there are many types and species of these pesky insects. In the United States, there are three types: subterranean, dry wood, and Formosan with the most dominant being the first two.
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