termites. o 45 species of termites in us o only 2 species are native

Termites

TermitesO 45 species of termites in US

O Only 2 species are native

TermitesO Gut symbionts help digest cellulose

(wood)O Bacteria and protozoans

TermitesO Mature queen lays up to 10,000 eggs

per weekO She can live 10 years or more

O That’s 60 million eggs

Termites and AntsO Both swarm same time of year

O When reproductive take flightO Start new colony

Termites and AntsO Ants have constricted “waist”

O Between thorax and abdomen

TermitesO Spread chemical messages through

frequent groomingO Anal trophallaxis

O Fluids exchange anus to mouth

O Also transfers gut symbionts through colony

Caste SystemO Reproductive Castes

O Produce a queen

Caste SystemO Worker Caste

O Food, grooming

Caste SystemO Soldier Caste

O Enlarged mandibles

MoistureO Carry moist soil above ground

O Mud tubesO Keep termites moist

MoistureO Cemented with

saliva and fecal matterO Mud left behind

in wood

MoistureO Leaky pipesO Wet areasO Shrubs

against house

FoodO Radial paths spreading from colony

in search of foodO Spokes on wheel

O Can’t find food, likely bump into it

FoodO Cellulose is food source

O Untreated woodO Trees, stumps, firewood,

O Attracted to partially decomposed wood

FoodO Eat softer spring wood in growth

ringsO Leave harder summer wood

O Only eat 20% of total woodO Lattice symptom

FoodO Mud left in

tunnelsO Carpenter ants

leave clean tunnels

InspectionO Shed wings or dead swarmer

termitesO Window sills

O Mud tubesO Tiny holes in baseboards

O Hollow thump

PreventionO Eliminate wood to

ground contactO 90% of

infestationsO Firewood away

from houseO Untreated wood 6”

above groundO Use treated wood

for ground contact

Control

Termiticide TreatmentsO Chemical barrier

around houseO Trenching and

roddingO Slabs are drilled and

injected

ControlBait StationsO A non-lethal

food source around houseO Stations every

10’ to 15’O 12” to 18”

from houseO Frequently

monitored

Control

Bait StationsO If termites are present, non-lethal food

source replaced with poison baitO Slow-acting poison taken back to colony

PreventionO Keep vegetation

and mulch away from house

O Mulch serves as a moisture conduitO Mulch not a food

sourceO Even pea gravel

PreventionO Gutters and downspouts away from

house