Pest Briefs: Termites (Eastern Subterranean Termites) 101
By Robert (Bob) Batman

NATURAL ENTOMOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION (Eastern Subterranean Termite)

Phylum Arthropoda
Class Hexapoda or Insecta
Order Isoptera
Family Rhinotermitidae
Genus /species: Reticulitermes flavipes

Morphosis: Gradual metamorphosis (egg-nymph-adult). BRIEF NOTE: The termite structured caste system is social and contains reproductive castes (primary queen and king plus secondary or supplementary reproductives), a soldier caste, and a worker caste. Only the primary (queen) can reproduce other primaries which emerge from the nest and swarm. The supplementary or secondary reproductives cannot reproduce primaries, but they can produce like kind plus soldier and worker castes. Therefore, if the primary queen is injured or dies unexpectedly, the colony will carry on indefinitely because of secondary or supplementary reproduction capability: the only difference being no swarmers.

Termites: a silent and often invisible invader that can cause extensive damage (visible or hidden, or both) to wooden and other cellulose members of a structure! Eastern subterranean termites can be present in a structure and there may be absolutely no visible evidence of their presence. They can be eating on your house or commercial facility continuously, day and night, year-round, and you may not even know it! Your only protection against this pest is to have a termite treatment (either soil treatment, a baiting & monitoring service, or combination of both). An inspection can not prevent infestation and it will not detect infestation and/or damage which is hidden (see our Pest Brief on Termite Inspection Reports).

Brief History: Termites existed over 250 million years ago! Termites are, in one since, probably the most beneficial insect known to man. On the other hand, they can be the most destructive! Termites can be divided into three (3) simple groupings: 1) dampwood, 2) drywood, and; 3) subterranean. Other than very brief mention of the other groups, this Pest Brief is limited to information on "Eastern Subterranean Termites."

Dampwood Termites: Dampwood termites are found in the western USA (western Arizona, Nevada except the far eastern part, western Idaho, the NW corner of Montana, all of Washington state, all of Oregon, and all of California) extending north into British Columbia and south into the Baja and Mexico.

Drywood Termites: Drywood termites are found across the southern parts of the USA from North Carolina, along the seaboard part of North Carolina, South Carolina, the southern part of Georgia and Alabama, throughout Florida, the seaboard areas of Mississippi, southern Louisiana and Texas, the southwestern part of New Mexico, all but the very NE tip of Arizona, and throughout the southern and south-central part of California and all points west to the ocean, with this zone extending into the Baja and Mexico from the adjoining states. Seaboard herein refers to those areas along the coastline and extending inland up to a couple hundred miles, and sometimes further.

Subterranean Termites: Subterranean termites can be found, to some extent, in practically every state in the USA. Subterranean termites live and nest in the soil or within some wooden or other cellulose material which is in the soil. Subterranean termites can gain access into any untreated structure through openings as small as 1/32nd inch. They can construct mud shelter access tubes up and into structures. They pack mud into the galleys the eat in wood. There are several subterranean termites including the following: Desert Subterranean Termites (Heterotermes aureus {Snyder}), Arid Land Subterranean Termites (Reticultermes tibialis {Banks{), Western Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes hesperus {Banks}), Formosan Subterranean Termites (Coptotermes formosanus {Shiraki{), and Eastern Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes flavipes {Kollar}). This Pest Brief is limited, as hereintofore mentioned, to a brief (not all inclusive) discussion about Eastern Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes flavipes {Kollar{).

THE EASTERN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE is the most widely spread termite species in North America. These termites are commonly found from Ontario, Canada, and south- south-southwestward throughout the eastern half of the United States of America and into Texas and other points west-northwestward. According to Smith and Whitman, NPCA Field Guide, these termites are present south of a line where the average annual minimum temperature is -22 degrees F. Our area of operation (The Greater Kansas City Missouri & Kansas Metropolitan Area) is classified as a "heavily infested area." I have read that an average colony will have from around 60,000 to well over a million workers. Another important fact: there may be more than one colony infesting the structure.

Biology: The Eastern Subterranean termite is a social insect with a three (3) caste colony structure: 1) worker, 2) soldier, and 3) reproductive castes (primary, and secondary or supplementary reproductives).

1). Worker caste: consist of nymphs and adults (non reproductive males and females). The workers do all the damage! The workers are sightless and wingless, and resemble small (about the size of very small white rice) whitish maggots with legs. The worker is the only caste member that forages for food, can construct mud shelter tubes, eat wood, and feed itself. All the other caste members (soldiers, reproductives and first instar nymphs) depend on the workers to feed them, mouth-to-mouth, because their jaw development is not adequately developed. This mouth-to-mouth feeding process is called "Trophallaxis." The lower intestine of termites is alive with one-celled flagellated protozoa, various bacteria and amoebae, spriochaetes, and fungi. The microorganisms in the lower intestine produce enzymes which digest and decompose the wood consumed by the termites. Some workers are assigned colony work while other are the foragers which look for food. Depending on the reference source, worker termites can live up to 6 years.

2). Soldier caste: consists of nymphs and adults (non-reproductive males and females). The true warrior, their only job is protection. Soldiers can be found in the colony as well as with the workers: some will always go with workers wherever the workers go.

3). Reproductive caste: There are many reproductives in a termite colony! The termite kings (reproductive males), unlike ant kings, hang around continually mating with the queens (reproductive females).

The primary reproductives, the King and Queen (sometimes referred to as Macropterous males and females), have four long translucent, milky whitish wings which are bilaterally symmetrical (divided lengthwise, one half will equal the other). Only the primary (Macropterous) reproductives reproduce swarmers and swarm (see swarm below). The primary reproduces all castes, including other primaries which emerge fro the colony and swarm out to start new colonies. There is usually only one pair of primary reproductives in the termite colony.

The supplementary reproductives are divided into two (2) sub-reproductive categories: 1) Brachypterous, the short-winged reproductive males and females, and 2) Apterous, the wingless reproductives. The secondary or supplementary reproductives can reproduce "like kind" plus soldiers and workers. There are numerous supplementary reproductives in the termite colony.

According to some text books, the primary queen, when mature, can lay from 5 to 10 thousand eggs annually, and the secondary or supplementary queens can produce up to 30,000 eggs annually. According to "Mallis, Handbook of Pest Control," the secondary or supplementary queens in the colony, combined, lay as many eggs per day as the primary lays in a year during her prime. In the event the primary queen becomes injured or dies unexpectedly, the colony will continue on indefinitely because of the secondary or supplementary reproductives: there just won't be any swarming reproductives.

Swarms: The primary (Queen) does not produce swarmers until after the third (3rd) year. Depending on the reference source, the primary queen can live up to 25 years. Swarming season, in our area of the country, can begin as early as February 15th and last until June 15th with the heaviest swarming period being from mid April through May. From a few to great numbers may swarm on a given day, and it may be followed by additional swarms. Remember, not all colonies will produce swarmers. The swarming termites are blackish in color with four translucent, somewhat milky whitish, wings. Including the wings, each swarming termite is approximately 3/8 inch long. The swarming reproductives have what is referred to as functional eyes: they can distinguish light from dark, but cannot visualize forms. Swarming termites swarm towards light and away from dark. The swarmers, primary males and females (kings and queens)swarm, then pair (male and female), brake off their wings, and enter the soil to start a new colony.

Termites usually swarm, in our area of the country, between February 15th and June 15th, following a rain or when the temperature (the number in degrees F) comes up to match the humidity (the percent number of relative humidity). The swarming termites, unlike swarming ants, have a tendency to drop their wings: look for the lost wings in areas where termites swarm. In very unusual situations and under very unusual conditions, swarmers may appear at times other than during the swarming season. Such out-of- season swarms, in our area, are very rare.

Remember, only the primary (Macropterous) reproductives can reproduce primaries and only the primaries swarm. If you experience what you believe to be a termite swarm, collect a few samples in a zip-lock bag or other container (they can't bite or sting you) and phone a reputable pest control company to check out your situation: give the pest control service technician the samples for identification. If you live in the greater Kansas City metro area, give us (BEST) a call: (816) 765-8844.

Damage: Eastern subterranean termites cause damage to wood by eating the wood. Visible termite damage can be easily identified by a trained professional. To the untrained person, termite damage may be easily confused with that which is caused by other wood-destroying organisms. Eastern subterranean termites can cause extensive damage in areas which cannot be visually detected. Visual inspections include only the readily accessible areas and do not include inaccessible areas including, but not limited to, those hidden by obstructions. Visual inspections may or may not detect termite infestation evidence, and inspections can not protect any building or other structure from termite infestation and damage. Termite inspections should be performed by a trained professional as s/he is specially trained to detect the small, but visible, infestation areas the average homeowner will probably miss. Sometimes the only visible termite evidence is a very, very small area of infestation. The cost for professional inspection by a properly trained pest control operator, is well worth the money.

HOMEOWNERS TAKE NOTE: Homeowners should not wait to see subterranean termite swarmers before calling a pest control professional: there are other visible signs the professional is trained to detect. Visible evidence, other than swarming termites, may be present in your house: 1) body parts, including wings, from previously undetected swarms, 2) mud shelter tubes or visible signs of where mud shelter tubes once existed, and 3) wooden structural or decor members, or other items, which have been eaten by termites (visible termite damage). A trained professional can identify the various forms of visible termite evidence and s/he knows where to look for it! Remember, sometimes the areas of visible evidence may be very small: areas most homeowners may miss.

PROBLEMS ARISE OUT OF ASSUMPTIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS: Do not assume anything. Hopefully, this Pest Brief has provided some helpful information to homeowners and others who need to know more about eastern subterranean termites. For additional information refer to our pest briefs on Termite Baiting Service, Termite Soil Treatment, Termite Inspection Reports, and Termite Service Warranties. If you read and study all the afore-listed pest briefs, you should have a pretty good handle on the subject of termites, termite inspections, termite treatments, and termite treatment service warranties.

Remember, when a pest control company's service technician arrives are your house or place of business, s/he isn't there to educate you. The service technician is there to provide an already authorized and scheduled service (usually, an inspection or pesticide application service) and s/he has other scheduled work (other customers waiting for the technician to arrive).

There are not, at this time, a lot of professional pest control consultants: don't expect your service technician to also perform the duties of a professional pest control consultant or to have all the answers to your questions. Some companies, like ours, also offer consulting services for those willing to pay for same. If you want or need answers to certain questions, you may have to hire a professional pest consultant.

If you live in the Greater Kansas City Missouri/Kansas Area and need Termite Treatment/Service or a Termite Inspection, Give Best Exterminators, Inc. a call (816) 765-8844.