Termite Social Organization and Behavior

In the strictest sense, termites are eusocial insects classified under the taxonomic order, Isoptera. The term eusocial is defined as having the “highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification.” Because of their very communal nature, they are usually found in clusters of colonies with a number of individual members that range from several thousand to several million.

Each member of a termite colony instinctively knows their job and how to work with the other members of the termite colony. This swarm intelligence works even in the absence of centralized control. It is a classic example of a self-organized, decentralized system. This allows termite colonies to continue on even if a significant portion of the colony was lost.

The social organization of termites divides the colony into four major groups: their young called nymphs, the reproductive individuals, the workers, and the soldiers.

Termite queens and kings start as young alates, which are winged termites. These termites leave their colonies and fly off to form their own. They officially recive the designation of king and queen titles after having mated and started a colony. The king termite will always stay close to the queen termite and they mate for life. Interestingly, a termite colony can have secondary queen and king termites. These additional reproductives allow the colony to grow and expand quicker,...

Read Full Article From Termites

Key to Stopping Termite Damage is Termite Inspection

In 1991 Tampa first discovered Formosan subterranean termites near Tampa International Airport. By 1999 they were discovered in nearby Temple Terrace as well. Not long after, a termite inspection discovered them in a warehouse in South Tampa. In 2003, a termite inspection discovered them on Harbor Island, near downtown Tampa.

There is no doubt that new subterranean colonies are now forming in or near Tampa. They just haven’t been found. Increased vigilance has become the order of the day. The remedy consists of regular termite inspections by trained professionals and immediate treatment if needed. These are the only protection property owners have against the slow, silent invasion.

It isn’t just Tampa, or even Florida’s central west coast at risk, its coastal communities throughout Florida and across the Gulf Coast. The Formosan termite has now been found in at least 14 other Florida counties. The fact is that once Formosan termites become established, they’ve never been eradicated from an area.

In New Orleans, where more than 90% of the buildings in the French Quarter are infested, Formosan termites are responsible for $300 million annually for control and repair costs. In the state of Hawaii, they are considered the single most economically important insect pest.

A typical Formosan termite colony has a gigantic appetite. Experts say the average native subterranean termite colony can consume around 7 pounds of wood per year. On the other,...

Read Full Article From AXXA Articles

Tips to Keep Your Home off the Termite Radar

What are the largest threats to your home? You may say fire - but there’s something which poses even more of a hazard to your home; the lowly termite. They can do more damage to your home than a fire and are not going anywhere soon. Termites have been around longer than we have and you have to stay alert to protect your investment in your home.

Most termites invade old homes or those that have not had proper upkeep, but there are times when termites and other pests create problems with newer homes as well. This can occur whenever trees are cleared for the building of houses. If termites are already present in the area they find it jolly fun to move their nesting colonies from the destroyed mounds to the much nicer location that the new homes offer. Even having concrete or brick slabs or underpinnings can not guarantee safety from these invaders.

There are considered to be two basic types of termite, those that seek burrows in the earth and those that live in dry wood. Prevention is seen as the most effective method of protecting your home, so a proactive stance is essential. To protect your property against pest invasions the following measures may help:,...

Read Full Article From About Termites

How to Identify and Prevent Termite Infestations

Termites are arriving daily! A wooden house and the right weather conditions are all termites need to take up residence and begin causing big problems. Besides water, termites are your household’s largest foe. The only thing they do all day is eat your house and procreate. Termites multiply at incredible rates and can be potentially devastating to homes. Early detection is vital and homeowners, particularly around Sydney, should be constantly on the lookout for signs of an infestation.

Drywood and subterranean termites are the most serious threats to your home. Drywood termites live above ground, particularly in warm coastal areas. Found largely in higher elevations, subterranean termites are more prevalent and pose a more serious threat to homes in the Sydney area.

5 signs that you may have termites:,...

Read Full Article From About Termites

What to do and What Not to Do When You Discover Termites or Other Pests in Your House

Termites are a huge threat - all it takes is the right weather conditions and of course a wood-frame house for termites to equate to big trouble. Other than water, termites are the worst enemy of your home. They are single minded in their determination to eat and reproduce. Termites procreate at a stunning speed and if left alone for enough time can seriously damage your home. Detecting termite infestations early is the only way to stop them and Sydney homeowners must be vigilant to spot the signs that termites are present.

Potentially the most damaging pests to your housing substructure are drywood and subterranean termites. Drywood termites dwell above ground and enjoy for the most part tepid, coastal locations. Subterraneous are present in larger numbers and are found in higher locations. As a result subterraneous termites pose the greatest risk to the greatest amount of households.

Here are 5 signs that you may have termites.

1. Hollow wood. Jab wood nearest the substructure of your house with a sharp metallic object. Badly broken-down wood corroded from the interior is commonly a calling card of termites.

2. Grime in wood. Termites enjoy wet wood and a lot of people often mistake termite damage for water damage and vice versa. Wet wood is often the first place that termites will invade. Regularly check regions about your household that are perpetually damp (i.e. below leaking sinks, near sprinklers etc.)

3. Flying termites. If you spot a lot of flying termites near your home, this is a likely indicator of an infestation. Termites will be seen most commonly in early spring. Check around your windows for termites.

4. Muck appearing between crevices. If your home is infested with termites, you may see muck coming up from crevices between planks and boards.

5. Termite wings in bright places. Bright light appeals to flying termites and they often cast off their wings around window sills, gossamers, and in other bright places. Finding flying termites or the wings they shake off inside your house is often indicative of an infestation. Confer with a certified termite company immediately,...

Read Full Article From Termites

Another Way On How To Kill Termites

We look for inexpensive yet positive ways to kill termites. Because termites cost us billions of dollars, we need to learn the proper ways on how to kill termites before they cost your thousands of dollars and in some cases your entire home. People who have left their home to termites, most of the time unknowingly, the home has to be torn down or gutted and started over. If we take charge of the situation before it gets to far out of hand, we can somehow save our homes from the damage done by termites, which is worst then floods, fire and hurricanes or tornadoes.

Many ways exist on how to kill termites, but what is good for one homeowner, might not be the right way for you. Everybody has a different idea on the best and effective way to do the task. Although all methods have proven to be effective, your time and money needs to be considered. Termites have become resilient over the years and so you need to pay close attention to the proper ways on how to kill termites.

Baiting has been a popular way for homeowners to rid their homes of termites. Many professionals use this method and swear by the results, although other methods are just as effective. Baits contain toxins that are alluring to the termite and they flock to the bait boxes to feed in turn they die. The bait is put in the path of the worker termite or near a colony,...

Read Full Article From All About Termites

We Find Termites In Africa

In all, there are over thirteen hundred varieties of termites. They differ from each other by structure in their colonies, color and devastation. Termites in Africa have a keen survival method. Everyone has a different view about termites, but if you look at the termites in Africa, you will see that they have actually created a colony to live that reaches heights of twenty feet.

In the colony, one may find as many as five million of these annoying little annoying insects. They keep an internal temperature of about eighty-six degrees inside the colony. Scientists learn a great deal about the termites in Africa by studying the construction of the colonies and the ability to control their internal temperature in the mounds.

Tunnels and air ducts within the nest of the termites in Africa allow for airflow, temperature and moisture control. As more studies are done on the mounds of the African termite with a digital scanning devise, receiving a clear picture and understanding of the construction and design of these mounds may help with construction of building in our future. The termites in Africa have such a unique way of constructing the mounds that designers and builders learn about such things as temperature and airflow control.

We have dealt with African termites and other species throughout time and millions have been spent to repair some buildings that these destructive pests destroy. African termites actually have the ability to live with changes in the environment they live in although they are incredibility small. We might learn from the termites in Africa if we could look past their devastating affects on our society. Even if we learn a few things from natures habitants...

Read full article on: Termites

Your Survival Guide To Detecting Termites

Inside the wood or underground, termites hide as they eat away at your home or building. Detecting termites is a painstaking adventure in some cases, as you know they are there, but have problems finding the major infestation. Learn the basic detecting methods used to find termites in your home.
Know The Nature Of Termites
If you have the basic information about the nature of termites, you can this information to search and detect termites in your home. Termites generally leave traces behind, such as feces piles, which when followed should lead to the nest.
Detecting Termites In Their Favorite Places
Cellulose is the main source of food for termite, which is found in wood. Anywhere you have wood in house can become infested with termites. When checking the home, look everywhere there is wood to and do not forget the attic, which has plenty of wood.
Because some species of termites live underground, you may check the landscaping and other areas where termites may nest underground. They need good ventilation and soil provides this need. Check your trees as well, as termites may find these a good source of food as well.
Signs You May Have Termite Infestation
Mud tubes running on the walls, floors and other areas are good sign you have a termite infestation. Termites travel from food sources to their nests by way of these mud tubes. Another way for them to travel is in hollow wood, you will also find evidence of dried mud because they have left the area and moved to the next food source in your home. If you ever see the swarmers in the area, chances are good you have termites nearby.
Surviving Termite Infestations
Detecting termites and treating infestations are very different events. Once you find an infestation, stop and think about the next step. Do not disturb the termites and use the proper steps to rid your home of the problem. Performing the wrong steps can cause further problems or even harm you.
Keep a list of the areas that have infestation, this is the first step to pest control. Call in an exterminator to help with the infestation. If you have documentation as to where the infestations are located, you can save the exterminator time and your money. Always keep a list of any new areas that may become infested as you work your way through killing off the termites.

Termites Can Ruin Your Home

There are three conditions that attract termites to an area:

Water is the first condition that attracts termites to an area. Termites generally cannot survive without a source of water present. Termites will always seek some source of moisture to survive whether it is in the form of a leaky faucet, sprinkler or rain.

Wood is the next thing that will attract termites. Termites will consume any material that contains cellulose. Since wood contains a great deal of cellulose, termites eat wood like no other. If a single piece of wood touches the ground, a colony of termites somewhere will know about it. Some subterranean termites will consume other materials such as vegetation, dung, and humus, but their primary source of food ...

Read Full Article From Termites

All About The Swarmer Termites

Termites hit the knowledge to make at a broad evaluate of pace and springy in the concern unobserved by man. We undergo that termites are institute in more than cardinal proportionality of world. One strength say, this cannot be true, but continent also has termites and they are titled the individual termites. Because of the earnest alteration termites do to our homes and building, it has outlay us over digit 1000000000 dollars a assemblage to bushel restitution structures caused by, not, fires, not tornadoes, but by termites.

Because of their snap and knowledge to take and make undetected, the insect accumulation discover drawing humankind by decade to one. The accumulation of the termites lays with the swarmer termites whose display the foodstuff and move to place foodstuff regular until they die. This is their exclusive job, the miss termites, alter them concern and physique their nests, they are fortified by the shirker termites.

The swarmer termites curb during the outflow months and are slummy at it modify then. They are hunting for a brute in visit to make and move a newborn body this time. If you wager what appears to be air ants, and you conceive they are discover of season, you are belike watching the swarmer ...

Read Full Article From petinfos.info/Termites