How would you know that you need a termite treatment… Some indications you may have a termite infestation include the following: Spread by swarming is slow mainly because these insects are poor fliers. Swarming is the primary way the termite naturally spreads after it has been transported to a new area. Major swarms of this termite occur in May and June, but small flights can occur at any time of the year. They can also live in boats and buildings. These termites live in huge colonies that are divided into three groups: workers, soldiers and reproductives.įormosans live in huge underground colonies (up to 300 feet long), and build mud nests inside the walls of a building. It is known to cause major structural timber damage to homes and buildings within a few months. So they are a problem in the South.įormosan termites are the largest, most aggressive and destructive timber pests in the United States. The Formosan termite is rarely found North of 35° N latitude. If these piles are present on windowsills or spider webs in your home, you are most likely experiencing a termite infestation especially if the wings are all the same size. Ant swarmers have two large wings in front and two smaller wings behind.Īfter mating, swarmer termites land and shed their wings, leaving them in piles that resemble fish scales. Termite swarmers have four wings that are all the same size. Winged, reproductive termites are frequently mistaken for flying ants, but are smaller than ants and have straight, rather than bent, antennae. Subterranean termite colonies are usually active for three to five years before these winged reproductives appear. These swarms consist of winged, reproductive (both males and females). The presence of winged termites in your home is a sure sign of infestation but the actual infestation begins when warm temperatures and heavy rainfall trigger an established colony to send out a swarm of winged termites. Termites are highly destructive to common building woods such as Douglas Fir. As a result, infested timbers are often left partly hollow with a honey-comb of layered sections. Termites can also injure or destroy living trees and shrubs.Įastern subterranean termites can rapidly eat out the internal sections of structural timbers – devouring mainly the spring wood, and preferring to leave the harder summer wood sections. They can destroy building foundations, wooden support beams.
Worker termites will construct elaborate mud tunnels through the timber and framing of homes and, over time, cause significant destruction. They send troops out of the ground nest to reach above ground food sources. These are the termites that cause so much damage to homes in the North East.
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