Educate to Eradicate

Benefits & Disadvantages of Termites

• Benefits

• Consumption of wooden houses = PESTS

• Food source for amphibians, reptiles, and birds

• DecomposersBreak down cellulose in wood Recycle nutrients into the environment

• Disadvantages

Termites in Hawaii

Scientific name Common nameNeotermes connexus Snyder Forest tree drywood termite

Incisitermes immigrans (Snyder) Lowland tree drywood termite

Cryptotermes brevis (Walker) West Indian drywood termite

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki Formosan subterranean termite

Cryptotermes cynocephalus Indo-Malaysia drywood termite

Incisitermes minor Western drywood termite

Zootermopsis angusticollis Pacific dampwood termite

Coptotermes vastator Philippine milk termite

Termite Types in Hawaii

• Subterranean/Ground Termites Colony/Nest is found in the ground

• Drywood Termites

Colony/Nest is found in the wood that they eat

Termites in Hawaii

Subterranean Philippine Milk Termite

ECONOMIC TERMITE PESTS IN HAWAIIFORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki

•Major swarms occur during May and June

•Colony development is fast: 5 years to produce a mature colony

•Colony size is large: between 3-10 million termites

•Distinct worker caste

•Attack most wood types but prefer softwoods

WEST INDIAN DRYWOOD TERMITE

Cryptotermes brevis (Walker)

•Major swarms occur during June and July

•Colony development is very slow: about 12 termites during 1st yr.

•Colony size is very small: about 300 to a few thousand termites

•No true worker caste; all become soldiers or reproductives

•Attack most wood types but prefer hardwoods

Subterranean Termites versus Drywood TermitesWings from Alates

• Subterranean Termites Two veins along the top which run parallel to each other (simple)

Subterranean termite alate wing

Drywood termite alate wing

• Drywood Termites

More detailed pattern along

the top of vein (complex)

Subterranean Termites versus Drywood Termites Excretions/Waste Material

Subterranean Termites Leaves behind CARTON, resembling hard cardboard

Drywood TermitesLeaves behind FRASS resembling sand

Subterranean Termites versus Drywood Termites Feeding Pattern

Subterranean termites Eats in a distinct pattern “picky eaters”

Drywood termitesEats in NO distinct pattern “non-picky eaters”

Subterranean Termites versus Drywood Termites Home Life

Subterranean termites Create mud tunnels

Drywood termitesMake kickout holes

Is it a Termite or is it an Ant?• Antenna

Ant: Elbowed Termite: Not elbowed

• Body Shape Ant: Hour glass Termite: Uniformed

• Wings Stubs

•Ant: None •Termites: Has left over

Size/shape•Ant: Different•Termite: Same