Termite identification and Types of Termites

Termite identification is the first step in eradicating these pests. These 6-legged insects can reason a lot of harm to homeowners because they eat wood. These can also cause damage to farmers because they eat crops. Possible habitats of these termites are wood or soil.

Termites have been known to resemble ants. That’s why these have been called “white ants.” But compared to ants, termites have softer bodies with only two parts head and body, their legs are shorter, and they move more slowly than ants.

Termites that remain in the nests are white or lighter in color. The darker termites are the ones with wings. In termite identification, you must also know that in every colony, there are different types of termites based on their roles.

Soldier termites are the ones who defend the colony from predators. These have long heads and powerful jaws. Another type of termites is the reproductive or swarmer termite. These fly in swarms after the first rain of the rainy season in order to find a place to nest. Once they have found a suitable place, they will shed their wings and start reproducing.

Reproduction in every colony is the role of one queen termite. There’s only one queen per colony. She mates with one king as well. The queen termite is the biggest in the colony. She can get to as much as 4 inches long.  Termite identification is easy of you know how termites look like. And once you have identified them, you can now eradicate these pests.

Termites Types:

Based on their feeding behavior, termites are classified into different types: subterranean, dry wood, and damp wood. Subterranean termites live in moist habitats – in or near the soil. Therefore, subterranean termites cause a lot of damage in foundation and structural wood support. The colony of this type of termites consists of reproductives, workers, and soldiers. Reproductives are dark brown to brownish black with brownish gray wings. Soldiers are wingless and their narrow heads have no eyes. Workers are a bit smaller than reproductives have shorter heads than soldiers, and have the same color as soldiers. These also have no wings.

Dry wood termites live in dry, UN decayed wood like limbs of trees, utility poles, posts, and lumber. These termites do not require a lot of moisture which makes them live in dry places. Dry wood termites do not have any connection with the soil. Their wings and veins are black. They have a reddish brunette head and thorax. Soldiers if these type of termites have a 3rd antennal segment which is twice as long as the other segments.

Damp wood termites live in wooden structure that is obscured in the soil or any wood that is soaring in dampness. Soldiers have a flattened yellowish brown or brown head with elongated dark brown or black jaws. Nymphs are cream in color with spotted abdomens.

Of these three termite types, subterranean and dry woods cause damage to human-made structures. Because of these different feeding behaviors of termites, you will know the possible places that these pests will build colonies in. Check those places regularly to see if you have a termite infestation.

If you come through the serious termite infestation in your property than immediately take a action call expert pest controllers such as  Clean Sleep Pest Control Canberra Company to save your property from these destructive insects .