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Size: |
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Swarmers are about 3/8 inch (9mm) long, including wings. Body without wings is about 5 mm long. |
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Characteristics: |
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When swarming, these insects are blackish color with wings about twice as long as their bodies. Swarmer: Front wing has 2 dark, hardened veins in front part; other veins are not pigmented, with a few barely visible hairs. Front wing scale is larger than hind wing scale. Soldier: Head is rectangular in shape, not narrowed towards front; length is twice the width. Mandibles lack teeth. |
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Color: |
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Winged reproductives (alates) are dark brown to brownish to black and brownish gray wings. All other members except queen are whitish in color. |
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Where Found: |
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Most widespread and destructive termites in the United States; western states, from British Columbia south to western Mexico and east to Idaho and Nevada. |
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Comparison: |
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The Eastern Subterranean Termite soldier has a head less than twice as long as broad. Desert Subterranean Termite swarmer is pale yellow-brown with almost colorless wings; soldier is smooth and slender, and has mandibles a little longer than head width. Formosan Subterranean Termite swarmer has wings covered with hairs; body is pale to brownish yellow; soldier has head rounded on all sides, and tapered towards the front. Most other termite swarmers in western states have 3 or more pigmented veins in front wings. |
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Habitat: |
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Colonies are usually in the ground, below the frost line, and above the water table and rock. Mud tubes are built to reach food sources. Secondary colonies can exist above ground if a moisture source, such as leaky pipes, is present. |
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Food: |
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Cellulose materials; cardboard, newspapers. Attack spring wood; cannot effectively digest the lignin in summer growth wood. Do not live within the wood they eat. |
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Biology: |
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Growth of a colony from the primary pair of reproductives is slow. After swarming, a pair constructs a cavity, mates within one day of excavating, and the female lays an average of 10 eggs, which hatch in about 50 days. There can be as many as 7 instars (stages), with development taking over 5 months. Swarmers are produced the 3rd or 4th year at the earliest. Swarming occurs in the daytime, in the spring in northern regions, following rain in southern regions. Fall swarms can be quite large in some areas. |
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Damage: |
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Eat mostly spring wood, leaving the summer wood, so that damaged wood appears to be layered. Soil is found in the galleries. |
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Invasion: |
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Structures are entered through cracks less than 1/16 inch (1-2 mm) wide. |
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Control: |
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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.
This termite does not live in the wood, but rather in the ground; traveling through tunnels they create to reach their food product. As mentioned above, this insect swarms annually. It is important to have regular inspections that will identify infestations. The control method recommended depends on the location of the infestation. Liquid barrier treatment or baiting may be recommended. Physical conditions of the structure or the request of the property owner not to use residual pest materials may make the use of termite baiting systems more practical or desirable. Recommendation for the control of this insect should also include recommendations to repair structural damages caused by it. |
