Termite
What is Termites?
Termites are small soft bodied insects, which many people call “white ants”, There are many different termite species in Malaysia, some are important recyclers of dead and decaying timber, These species are subterranean, they constantly forage and evaluate the size and quality of food resources as they seek out cellulose, the primary component of wood. Termites live and work together in large groups known as colonies. They are divided into various groups known as castes; the Queen, king, soldiers, workers and alates.
Termite Control and Termite Treatment
It is very important that pest control problems be addressed immediately. Delayed termite treatment causes a lot of damage as the termites can chew through almost anything. These termites attack building structures such as roof trusses and compromise the safety of the occupants of your premises. They destroy your stock and damage your property.
Nymphs
While in the nymph state, termites diverge into different castes: workers, soldiers, reproductives and supplementary reproductives.
Workers
Most termites are workers, with soft, light-colored bodies rarely more than 10 mm long, like grains of rice. They are blind, wingless termites that maintain the colony, build and repair the nest and care for others termite. They rarely leave the dark tunnels that run from the colony through the soil and into the wooden frames of buildings. Twenty-four hours a day, they forage for food, maintain the nest, and tend the queen and her brood. Juveniles, called nymphs, groom and feed one another and others in the colony.
Soldier
Soldiers are sterile, wingless and blind. They have long heads with powerful jaws and are responsible for defense colony, primarily against invading ants.
Reproductive
Reproductive male and female termites will eventually leave the colony as adult “Swarmers” to mate and start new colonies.
Queen
The queen is the largest colony member, up to 10 cm long, about the size of the space bar on your computer. She’s so big that if she needs to move, it requires several hundred workers pushing at once. She lays an egg every 3 seconds, averaging 30,000 egg per day. If she dies, another reproductive takes her place. Some Queen termite can live for as long as 30 years.
Termite Warning Signs & Identification
- A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around your home.
- Any cracked or bubbling paint or frass (termite droppings).
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawl spaces.
- Discarded wings from swarmers
TERMITE VS ANT