Eastern Subterranean Termites Identification
Size: Swarmers are 3/8 inch, Soldiers and Workers are 1/8 inch
Color: Soldiers are creamy white and the head is brown. Workers are also creamy white. Swarmers are dark brown/black
Shape: Long, narrow and oval
Nest
Eastern Subterranean Termites are social insects that consists of reproductives (queen, king, swarmers), workers and soldiers. The role of soldier termites is to defend the colony from enemies such as ants. Workers role is to damage and gather wood. The location of the nest can be either below ground or above ground. For the nest to survive above ground, there needs to be enough moisture to support the nest. The colony can hold up to 1 million termites. A colony starts with one male and one female swarmer. A male swarmer and a female swarmer will leave an existing colony to make a new colony. Once the pair of swarmers find a place to make a colony, the male and female swarmers will shed their wings and will mate and the female swarmer will lay eggs. Each year, the number of eggs that the queen lays increases. Subterranean termites start swarming in the spring.
The danger of Eastern Subterranean Termites is the damage they do to wood. Termites cause $5 billion in property. There are 60,000 termite workers in a colony and termite workers eat wood 24 hours a day as time passes and as the colony gets bigger, the damage to the wood increases and will pose a problem and homeowners.
Signs of Subterranean Termites
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Shed wings of termite swarmers on baseboards and windowsills
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Mud tubes
For More Information On Termites
Difference Between Termite Swarmer and Ant Swarmer
Why Termites build Shelter Tubes?
Preventing Wood Decks & Porches From Termite Infestation
Soldiers and Workers In Wood Monitor