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Subterranean Termites
The three principal types of termites in Florida are subterranean (nest in the soil), dampwood (infest dampwood), and drywood termites (infest dry wood).
Subterranean termites are the most destructive and frequently encountered kind of termite found throughout the state. Although they nest in soil, subterranean termites can attack structures by building tubes that connect their nest to wood in structures.
Subterranean termites feed on wood or other items that contain cellulose, such as paper, fiberboard, and some fabrics derived from cotton or plant fibers. Termites have protozoa in their digestive tracts that can convert cellulose into usable food.
Eastern Subterranean Termite
The eastern subterranean termite (EST) is the most damaging urban pest, costing more than $1 billion annually for control and repair to damaged structures. Difficulty in controlling termites is largely due to their social nature (i.e., they live in colonies). The colony usually is located in the soil and comprises three castes: workers, soldiers and reproductives. All castes must be present for colony survival.
Aerial infestations with no ground connection are also known to occur, provided adequate food and moisture are available.
Current control methods focus on the use of a chemical barrier to exclude termites from an area. This does not kill the colony, however. Toxic baits are being developed that will eliminate colonies with significantly less pesticide.
Call us to find out more.
Workers
They have chewing mouthparts and cause all the damage in wooden structures. Workers are completely cream colored, soft bodied and blind.
They forage for food 24 hours a day.
This caste cannot be used for identification.
Workers are the most numerous of the three castes. Colonies have been estimated to contain from 60,000 to 5 million workers, covering an area of 25,000 ft2, with a foraging distance of 230 feet. Workers forage for food; tend eggs, young and reproductives; and build tubes.
Soldiers
They have rectangular, brownish heads and cream-colored abdomens. They comprise only I to 3 percent of the foraging termite population.
Soldiers preserved in 70 percent rubbing alcohol are useful in identification.
Soldier mandibles. These are smooth, protrude from the front of the soldiers' heads and are specialized to defend the colony. The position of the mandibles makes it impossible for soldiers to feed themselves. They are fed by workers.
Alates
These are winged reproductive termites. Eastern subterranean termite alates are day swarmers and appear from late January to early February. After swarming, they drop their wings and look for a nesting site.
**Note**
Termite alates are often confused with ants. Ants have thin waists; termites have broad waists.
After swarming, alates break off their wings and search for a place to begin a colony. Termite reproductives without wings have broad waists, long antennae and wing stubs. They burrow into the ground or rotten wood, where the queen begins laying eggs to start a new colony. After a swarm, these termites often are found on the floor or near windows.
Tubes
Termite tubes are made of mud and carton. Carton is composed of partially chewed wood, feces and soil packed together. Carton is used to create the characteristic tubes in which termites travel from place to place, or to make nests. Tubes serve to maintain the high humidity required for survival and to protect termites from predators. Feces. Fecal material produced by the EST usually is incorporated into carton tubes. Feces are more moist than drywood termite pellets and contain lignin, the relatively indigestible portion of wood.
Typical entry into a structure. This occurs around pipes or other utilities that penetrate the concrete slab of a structure.
The chemical barrier around these areas is most easily broken. Workers use carton tubes to gain entry and to create a "highway" in which they travel to and from the nest to forage.
Wood damage by EST. Workers feed along the grain in the soft portion of the wood and create galleries lined with a muddy material. A large colony can consume about one pound of wood per day. Termites can feed on anything containing cellulose, the main component of wood.
Biology
Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies consisting of many individuals. The colonies are composed of workers, soldiers and reproductives.
Subterranean termites nest in the soil to obtain moisture, but they also nest in wood that is often wet. They easily attack any wood in contact with the ground. If the wood does not contact the soil, they can build mud tunnels or tubes to reach wood several feet above the ground. These tunnels can extend for 50-60 feet to reach wood and often enter a structure through expansion joints in concrete slabs or where utilities enter the house.
Detection Of Termites
Termites remain hidden within wood and are often difficult to detect. However, subterranean termites may be detected by the presence of winged reproductives, mud tubes, and wood damage.
Winged Reproductives
Winged reproductives emerge from colonies in great numbers usually in the spring and during the daylight hours. Usually termites are first noticed by the presence of winged reproductives. Mating occurs during these flights, and males and females form new colonies. Winged termites can be distinguished from flying ants by their thick-waist, straight antennae and wings of equal size.
Winged termites in a house are an indication of probable infestation. Termite wings break off shortly after their flight, and even though the actual swarming is not observed, the presence of discarded wings indicate that a colony is nearby. Because termites are attracted to light, their broken off wings are often near doors or windows where the termites have been attracted to the light.
Winged termites emerging from the ground out-of-doors near the house does not necessarily mean the house is infested, but it is a good reason to check further. Termites in the wood of homes or other buildings usually come from colonies already established in the soil.
Peak swarming periods for subterranean termites are from January through May in Florida. They may also swarm to a lesser extent during the other months.
Mud Tubes
Subterranean termites build earthen, shelter tubes to protect them from low humidity and predation. These tubes are usually 1/4 to 1 inch wide. Houses should be inspected at least once a year for evidence of tubes. If the house has a crawl space, the inside and outside of foundations should be inspected for tubes. If the house has a concrete slab floor, cracks in concrete floors and places where pipes and utilities go through the slab should be closely examined. Cracks in concrete foundations and open voids in concrete block foundations are also hidden avenues of entry.
Wood Damage
Wood damaged by subterranean termites is often not noticed because the exterior surface usually must be removed to see the damage. However, galleries can be detected by tapping the wood every few inches with the handle of a screwdriver. Damaged wood sounds hollow, and the screwdriver may even break through into the galleries.
Subterranean termite feeding follows the grain of the wood and only the soft springwood is attacked. Unlike drywood termites or other woodboring insects, subterranean termites do not push wood particles or pellets (fecal material) to the outside, but rather use it in the construction of their tunnels. This debris, along with sand and soil particles, is used as a form of plaster.
Identification
Subterranean and drywood termites require completely different control methods; therefore, the termites must be correctly identified. Soldiers, winged specimens or wings can be identified at your county extension office. Workers and immatures are virtually impossible to identify. If you decide that the services of an experienced pest control operator are needed, please call us for a "FREE" home inspection.
SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE PREVENTION AND CONTROL
The best control of subterranean termites is prevention. The best time to provide protection against termites is during the planning and construction of a building.
Prevention should include:
1-Removal of all stumps, roots, wood, and similar materials from the building site before construction is begun.
2 -Removal of all form boards and grade stakes used in construction.
3-There should be no contact between the building woodwork and the soil or fill. Exterior woodwork should be located a minimum of 6 inches above ground and beams in crawl spaces at least 18 inches above ground to provide ample space to make future inspections.
4- Ventilation openings in foundations should be designed to prevent dead air pockets and of sufficient size to assure frequent changes of air - at least 2 sq. ft. to 25 running feet of outside foundation wall. This helps keep the ground dry and unfavorable for termites.
5- Thorough annual inspections should be conducted to discover evidence of termite activity such as shelter tubes on foundation surfaces, discarded wings or adult termites.
6- Any wood that contacts the soil, such as fence posts, poles and general foundation structures, should be commercially pressure treated.
PRECONSTRUCTION TREATMENT OF STRUCTURES
Control subterranean termites by preventing the termite colony in the soil from entering the structure. It is impossible to build structures so termites cannot cause damage. Therefore, a thorough preconstruction treatment should be applied to protect the structure for 5-20 years. Houses treated prior to 1988 with chlorinated hydrocarbons, should be protected from subterranean termites for 30-40 years.
Several insecticides have proven satisfactory for making effective barriers when properly applied.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT OF FOUNDATION WALLS AND PIERS
After the footings are poured and the foundation walls and/or piers have been constructed, apply the insecticide to a trench in the soil about 6-12 inches wide and 4-6 inches deep adjacent to the foundation. The insecticide must be applied to both the inside and outside of the foundation and also around piers, chimney bases, pipes, conduits and any other structures in contact with the soil. The trench should be as deep as the top of the footing. The insecticide should be mixed with water as recommended on the pesticide label and applied at the rate of 2 gallons per 5 linear feet of trench. The insecticide should be mixed with the soil as it is being replaced.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT OF CONCRETE SLABS
The most common type of construction in Florida is concrete slab resting on the soil. Often the slabs crack or shrink away from the foundation wall allowing termites to infest the wood above. The soil underneath and around the concrete slab should be treated with insecticide before the concrete slab is poured. The chemical should be applied after all the subslab fill and reinforcement rods are in place. Apply diluted spray to the fill at the rate of 1 gal. per 10 sq. ft. Along both sides of foundation walls and interior foundation walls and plumbing (critical areas), apply diluted insecticide at the rate of 2 gal. per 5 linear feet. Treat all hollow masonry units of foundations with I gal. of diluted spray per 5 linear feet. Apply the insecticide to reach the footing.
POST-CONSTRUCTION TREATMENT OF STRUCTURES
Crawl Space Treatment
Dig narrow trenches along both the inside and outside of foundation walls and around piers and chimney bases, and apply diluted spray as described above. Also be sure to trench and treat around sewer pipes, conduits and all other structural members in contact with the soil. Apply the insecticide to the trenches. The insecticide must be applied to both the inside and outside of the foundation and also around piers, chimney bases, pipes, conduits and any other structures in contact with the soil. The trench should be as deep as the top of the footing. Mix the insecticide with water as recommended on the pesticide label. Apply the diluted spray at the rate of 2 gal. per 5 linear feet of trench. Mix the insecticide with the soil as it is being replaced.
Concrete Slab Construction
It is possible to trench around the outside of a slab after it has been poured, as described above, but this alone usually will not give satisfactory control because the termite colony may be entering the structure from the soil under the slab.
Homeowners are not equipped to treat under slabs after the slab foundation is completed. A professional pest control operator usually is needed to do subslab chemical injections.
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Formosan Subterranean Termite
The Formosan subterranean termite, is considered one of the most destructive and aggressive species of termites in the world. The Formosan subterranean termite is known to damage buildings, living trees, utility poles and railroad ties.
HISTORY AND SPREAD
The Formosan subterranean termite is native to China. It was first discovered at a Houston, Texas shipyard in 1965. Well-established colonies were first located in Florida in 1980, 1982 and 1984. The Formosan subterranean termite is extremely destructive.
In the United States, the Formosan subterranean termite generally has been confined to the southeast.
BIOLOGY AND HABITS
Swarming
Termites initiate a new colony by sending out winged reproductives (alates) from an established colony. Major swarms of the Formosan subterranean termite begin in May or June until high about July or August on humid, still evenings between dusk and midnight. Because alates are attracted to lights, large numbers can be seen around light sources during a swarm. After a short flight, alates drop to the ground, shed their wings and pair off. If they successfully find a small crevice containing moist wood, the pair forms a chamber in which the eggs are laid. It usually takes 3-5 years to develop a mature colony. A Formosan subterranean termite queen lays approximately 2000 eggs per day. A mature colony averages between 2-8.5 million termites (Lai 1977, Su 1991) and its foraging territory may range up to 300 feet from the nest.
Swarming generally starts at dusk; however, the Florida termite, and some drywood termite species are also night swarmers. Native subterranean termites generally swarm during the day.
Food
Like other termites, Formosan subterranean termites feed on cellulose. They have been found attacking 47 species of living plants including citrus, sugar cane, avocado, wild cherry, cherry laurel, ligustrum, hackberry, cedar, willow, tallow, wax myrtle, sweet gum, mimosa, cypress, red bud, Chinese elm and white oak. Formosan termites attacks the bases of poles, old tree stumps or other wood in contact with the soil. They have been known to construct galleries to the upper stories of buildings to feed on wood.
The Formosan termite has been known to attack non-cellulose material such as thin sheets of soft metal (lead or copper), asphalt, plaster, mortar, creosote, rubber and plastic in search of food and moisture. Their highly publicized ability to chew through concrete is a fallacy, However, the Formosan subterranean termite is uncanny in finding small cracks in concrete which they use are foraging routes.
A single Formosan subterranean termite does not consume more wood than does the native subterranean termites. The rapidity of damage is related to the termite's high reproductive capacity and large colony size.
Nests
Formosan termite nests are made of carton which consists of chewed wood, saliva and excrement. Nests can be constructed in the ground or aerially. Formosan subterranean termites can produce massive carton nests.
The native subterranean termite also produces carton when nesting, but it is small when compared with the Formosan subterranean termite nest. Auxiliary nests are often constructed in the walls of buildings or in the food source. When a nest or gallery is disturbed, the Formosan termite soldiers are usually present in larger numbers and are more aggressive than the native termites.
Damage
Most subterranean termites feed along the grain of the wood, eating the spring wood and leaving the summer wood. The Formosan termite feeds on both and forms a hollow.
In Hawaii, where unprotected homes were built over large colonies, records show that the Formosan subterranean termite caused major structural damage in 6 months and almost complete destruction in 2 years (Tamashiro 1984).
Moisture Requirements The Formosan termite, like all subterranean termites, uses the soil for a source of moisture. However, Formosan termite colonies can obtain moisture from plumbing or roofing leaks.
Workers and Nymphs
The workers and nymphs of the Formosan termite are white. They are difficult to distinguish from other termite species.
WHERE TO LOOK FOR FORMOSAN TERMITES
Formosan termites generally invade structures from the ground. They commonly enter through expansion joints, cracks and utility conduits in slabs and holes for tub drains. Any wood connecting with the ground is an inviting entrance to these termites. Foraging galleries lined with carton are then constructed to the food source.
The Formosan subterranean termite does not always require ground connection. If a pair of alates successfully finds adequate food and moisture sources in a building, it can initiate a colony with ground connection. The flat roofs of high rise buildings are places for the Formosan subterranean termite to initiate aerial infestations if portals of entry are found because they always contain water.
Survey data indicates that more than 25% of the infestations found in the urban southeastern Florida areas are caused by aerial colonies.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Watch for flights of reproductives in the spring and fall. Special attention should be given to picture windows, light fixtures and other well lighted areas. These termites swarm at night and are attracted to lights in large numbers. Cobwebs, window sills and other areas that collect debris should be inspected for wings of termites.
Inspect the inside and outside of structures for tunneling. Look for tunnels that disappear in cracks of masonry, in and around doors and window frames and along siding. A hollow sound in walls, baseboards and floors suggests infestation. Check for tunnels and other evidence of infestation in crawl spaces under structures.
Tunnels may not be evident in wood or wood products. It is best to probe such samples for evidence of infestation.
INSPECTION OF CONCRETE SLAB CONSTRUCTION
Inspect for evidence of termite activity near any plumbing that goes through the slab. Look for tubes around baseboards. Tap baseboards around walls. Check for wood which is in contact with the soil.
IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS
Contact us for a professional evaluation.
CONTROL OF FORMOSAN TERMITE
Preventive Control
The best control of the Formosan termite is prevention. Too much emphasis cannot be placed in the fact that the best time to provide protection against termites is during the planning and construction of the building.
1. Pretreat soil with recommended insecticides under and around the perimeter of the slab.
2. Make thorough annual inspections for evidence of termite activity.
Remedial Treatment
The basis for control of subterranean termites (the Formosan is a subterranean termite) in buildings is to treat the soil so that termites die as they move between the colony and wood. If a termite-proof chemical barrier between the soil and wood is maintained, the termites in the house cannot gain access to the soil to get moisture. If there is no moisture in the house, the termites will die. Also termites in the soil cannot gain access to the wood in the house. Spot treatment of sections of a building may not prevent the termite from gaining access elsewhere. The Formosan termite constructs galleries that may cover up to I acre of land, and it can easily find untreated areas to enter the building. Every effort should be made to complete the chemical barrier under the building to prevent future entry. Control is possible if the pest control operator and the public are aware that greater care is required when treating infestations. The Formosan termite takes advantage of a pesticide applicator's mistakes and is likely to require re treatment more often than native termites.
WE OFFER A REPAIR/REPLACEMENT BOND, to QUALIFIED HOMEOWNERS!
Home owners should consult a reputable, experienced, certified pest control operator rather than attempt home remedies to control this serious pest.
Fumigation
Generally fumigation is not recommended to control Formosan termites. It may be necessary to apply a fumigant gas to kill auxiliary nests in special cases where the soil has been properly treated and the infestation continues from an unknown moisture source. If a house is fumigated and the soil is not treated, there is nothing to prevent reentry of termites from the soil.
Treatment of Infested Trees
Surface applications of chemicals will not control Formosan termites, which usually hollow out the center of trees. Formosan termites can be controlled in living trees by drilling holes above the soil line and injecting the chemical into the void created by the termites.
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