Termites have more potential than what people would assume. Many people are likely not to take them seriously until they have already caused much damage to their property. These little insects are capable of damaging expensive furniture and other wood structures around the house.
Termites either build tubes, live underground, or make wood their home. In the case of drywood termites, it is seen that they live inside structures they feed on. It makes it even more challenging to find them or take notice of them because they always infest good from the inside.
Until or unless you hear some noise from inside the wood or get to know that the inside of the structure is destroyed, there is no other way for you to learn about their infestation. In Frisko, termite infestation is quite common, like many different types of infestations.
Termites move in colonies, which means if they are on your property, they must be in large numbers. If you ignore the infestation even when you get an idea about their presence, you will only be creating problems for yourself. You can check pest control near me to have a better understanding of the situation and bring everything under control.
What is the life history of termites?
There is a caste system among termites that not many people have an idea about. There is a hierarchy among them; at the bottom are the worker termites. They are not sexually active or mature. They had several tasks to do in their colony. They are the ones who locate the source of food.
They also take care of the young termites and help build nests. The next one in the hierarchy is the soldier termites. They are not mature either, just like the worker termites. There are some species of termites where it is seen that these soldier termites have something called “mandibles,” which they use for their defense.
There are also reproductives, which are responsible for producing the young ones. They are called alates. These termites can also have wings. They are usually seen during summertime and are seen in pairs. They are also the ones who later become kings and queens of the termite colony.
All the different families of termites have slightly different histories. Subterranean termites are known to cause severe damage around homes. They are found in both western and eastern parts of the United States.
Subterranean termites are also capable of decomposing living matter (specifically plant matter). In order to come up to the surface of the ground, they build mud tubes. In this way, they do not dry out and are able to thrive.
What is their diet like?
Termites get their nutrients from both plant-based materials and wood. However, they will not be able to digest the food they eat. If the plant fiber is tough, then they will have bacteria and protozoa to break down the food for them. An interesting fact about termites is that the queens in their colony can live upto twenty years.
Are there thoughts given to their conservation?
The answer is not really; there is not much thought given to this. It is simply because termites are primarily known for only causing damage around properties and feeding on wood items.
One thing to keep in mind is that if you have termites on your property, then there must be something that they find attractive. You have probably built your home where they find their habitat.
They are beneficial to nature in one way. They can decompose plant material, as we can see with earthworms. In an ecosystem, they do have a crucial role that cannot be overlooked.
When should you be concerned?
Termites being found in their natural habitat should not be a problem. However, if they are inside your home, then that can be a problem. You will not want them on your property because of how much damage they are capable of causing. You should consider contacting pest control as soon as you detect their activity.
