Wood consumption for one termite colony:
- Drywoods- one tenth of a pound per year
- Subterraneans- seven pounds per year
- Formosans- 1,000 pounds per year
Termite Trivia
- The termites on Earth outweigh the humans on Earth.
- Termites have been around for 250 million years.
- Termite kings and queens can live for 15 years, and the queen is capable of laying one egg every 15 seconds.
- Termites rarely expose themselves to light.
- Termites work 24 hours a day, they do not sleep.
- A typically infested home may have three to four subterranean colonies around it, with as many as one million termites in each colony.
- Termites are found in every state except Alaska, although most occur in the southern part of the nation.
Termite Anatomy
Termites are insects. They're most common in tropical environments, although they can live just about anywhere as long as the ground doesn't completely freeze in the winter. Although many people think termites resemble ants, they're more closely related to cockroaches.
All termite species are social, and termite colonies are divided into groups, or castes. Members of each caste have different jobs and different physical features:
- Reproductives lay eggs. Most colonies have one pair of primary reproductives -- the king and queen. In some species, secondary and tertiary reproductives assist with the egg-laying. Only the king and queen have eyes. The rest of the termites are blind and navigate using scent and moisture trails. Kings and queens are usually darker than the rest of the termites in the colony.
- Soldiers defend the nest from invaders, typically ants and termites from other colonies. In most species, soldiers have large heads and strong, pincer-like mandibles. Soldiers' heads are often darker than their bodies. Some species can secrete a toxic or sticky substance from their heads, which they use to kill or subdue intruders.
- Workers are a milky or creamy color. They have smaller, saw-toothed mandibles, which allow them to take small bites of wood and carry building materials. As their name suggests, they do most of the work in the colony. They dig tunnels, gather food and care for young. They also feed the king, queen and soldiers, who are unable to feed themselves. Workers and soldiers are sterile.
Protect Your Home Against Termites
Every year termites cause more than two billion dollars worth of damage and repair costs to American homes and businesses. Call us today to have a complete, thorough inspection done on your home to ensure that you are protecting your valuable investment.
