What is a Termite Inspection, and do you need one? The answer is: YES! Termites are not a pest that can be treated with DIY measures. Barnes Exterminating is a great choice to call for a FREE termite inspection!
Understanding the Termite Life Cycle
When you think of spring, you probably envision blooming flowers and the return of warmer weather. But, unfortunately, spring also marks the beginning of peak pest season. This is when most insects are coming out of their winter hiding spots, mating – and in some cases – finding their way into our homes. One of the most common springtime pests is also one of the biggest threats to our homes and properties – Termites.
Termites have been around for more than 120 million years. They are social insects and live in colonies that are usually located in the ground or in wood. Termites feed on the cellulose in wood and wood by-products, such as paper. It is an estimated cost of $5 billion in property damage every year caused by termites. And the worst thing about this damage is that it’s not typically covered by homeowners insurance. Because termites tend to remain out of sight, their damage can go unnoticed for many years, until serious issues arise. Therefore, it’s important to understand the life cycle of termites, and the signs that a colony has taken up residence in your home.
Termite Life Cycle
There are more than 2,000 known termite species in the world, with at least 50 species occurring in the U.S. Termites are typically classified into three groups based on the location of the colony – subterranean, drywood, and dampwood. A colony is made up of workers, soldiers, and swarmers. The workers maintain the colony. They construct and/or repair the nest, and forage for food for the colony. Soldiers are sterile, and their main role is to protect the colony. Neither workers nor soldiers have wings.
Swarmers, also known as reproductives, have two pairs of wings which lie flat over the abdomen when not in use. In the spring when the temperatures reach about 70 degrees, the young adult male and female swarmers emerge from their nests in large groups. The female will release “mating pheromones” much like perfume, to entice the male termites. Once the male locates an alluring female, they both will break off their wings, symbolizing that they are a couple. The new couple then selects a nest location and they will mate, becoming the king and queen of a new colony. The queen has been known to live at least 30 more years.
Depending on the species, it can take three to four years for a newly founded colony to reach maturity and produce its own swarmers. In the first year, the queen can lay between zero to 22 eggs. So at the end of the first year, a subterranean colony may contain as many as 75 individual termites. Whereas, drywoods may contain only a dozen termites. Because of this, it can take many years before a colony is large enough to cause visible damage to the wood they infest.
In colder regions where termites do not typically survive the winter, new colonies can be started in two different ways. One way is when infested wood is introduced to a new location, or number two is by division. Division typically occurs when new food source is located and a sub-colony is formed to exploit the source. Eventually, this sub-colony can then produce the needed reproductives from nymphs (young termites), and completely break off as its own colony.
Signs of Termites
Swarmers and the wings that have been shed, are often one of the only outwardly visible signs of the existence of termites. Because of this, many people are under the mis-conception that termites are only a problem in the spring. However, some termite species, including subterranean termites, can remain active year round even though they are out of sight, especially in warmer climates. In these cases, termites can be at work, eating away at wood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.