Western Exterminators - Pest Control Services California, Arizona, Nevada

Termites: Dampwood Termite | Western M (Hagen), Drywood Termite | Western Subterranean Termite

	Common name:	Latin name:	Class:	Order:	Family:
	Western M (Hagen), Drywood Termite	Incisitermes Minor	Insecta	Isoptera	Kalotermitidae

	Size:
	Swarmers are about 7/16-1/2 inch (11-13 mm) long, including wings, which are 3/8 inch (8.5 mm) or longer.
	Characteristics:
	Soldiers have a forehead that slopes down gradually from top of head, which is flattened to slightly rounded in side view; antenna has 3rd segment which is enlarged and club-like; pronotum (top body plate) is as wide or wider than head as viewed from the top.
	Color:
	Swarmer’s head and pronotum are orange brown, abdomen is dark brown, smoky wings, the membrane and pigmented veins are blackish. Soldier’s head is orange to reddish brown with a whitish eye spot.
	Droppings:
	Usually hard pellets, less than 1/32 in (1 mm) long, oval shaped with rounded ends, 6 concave sides.
	Where Found:
	Southwestern U.S., northwestern Mexico; may also be established in Florida, and can be transported outside these areas in infested furniture, picture frames.
	Habitat:
	Infest wood with moisture content of 12% or less.
	Food:
	They live within their food source- wood.
	Biology:
	Do not live in the ground or do not build mud tubes, nor require ground contact like other termites. Colonies are located in the wood they eat and are smaller than those of subterranean termites. There is no worker caste; immatures and nymphs do the work. After swarming, they find cracks or knotholes in nearby wood, gnaw a small tunnel, close it, excavate a chamber, and mate. The pair may remain dormant for nearly a year, or lay up to 5 eggs, 20 nymphs and 1 soldier. At the end of the 2nd year, the colony may have 6-40 nymphs and 1 soldier; by the 3rd year there may be 40-165 individuals; by the 4th year, 70-700 individuals, at which time the first swarmers may be realized. Swarming in dozens or occasionally hundreds. This typically happens in September through November on a bright day in warm, sunny weather (80 degrees F, 27 C), peaking after a sudden temperature increase. In Arizona, they swarm at night in July. Swarmers are attracted to light.
	Damage:
	Structural pest in buildings.
	Invasion:
	Distributed by human activity, like the shipping of infested furniture, picture frames, and lumber, to new areas. Swarmers fly into structures directly infesting the wood. They are likely to initially infest exposed places such as door and window frames, eaves, attics, molding, or where shingles and paper overhang timber; finding a protected joint or crevice. They often re-infest the same structure when swarming.
	Control:
	Wood Destroying Organism control requires inspection of the structure by a registered company and state licensed inspector to find and identify conditions. A written report will be issued. This report must list findings and appropriate recommendations as per the rules and regulations established by the regulatory agencies in the various States. Consult with you local office for the requirements that effect your structure. Evidence of this termite is small ‘pellets’ or possible red-headed swarming, winged insects which may leave their wings behind on various surfaces. This termite lives directly in the wood it consumes. As mentioned above, this insect swarms annually. It is important to have regular inspections that will identify infestations. There are various control methods including fumigation, heat treatment or local treatment with residual materials. Proper method of control will depend on where the evidence of the infestation is located. Recommendation for the control of this insect should also include recommendations to repair structural damages caused by it.