Subterranean termites are the most common type of termites. It is annoying, and it can cause billions of dollars every year. Controlling the spread of subterranean termites is the best way to prevent further damage. However, eastern subterranean termites move in colonies and create mud tubes or tunnels that made them difficult to locate.
Pest control can help you minimize the risks of having eastern subterranean termites in your home. But, it is not enough if you do not have enough knowledge about it. In this article, you will understand various termite species and create lessen the termite damage.
What are Eastern Subterranean termites?
Eastern subterranean termites are one of the dangerous termite species. They can cause huge damage by building their distinctive tunnels as their passageway to have their food sources and secure themselves from the open air. They live in colonies, and it is divided into three primary groups: reproductive, workers, and soldiers. Each group has its own responsibility in the termite colony.
Eastern subterranean termites feed on tree stumps, wood, roots, branches, and even tree limbs. They can also eat the living plants, especially their roots. Eastern subterranean termites also attack houses and buildings, and they eat papers, books, wooden fixtures, cotton, and other products. They eat 24/7 and can even make a building collapse. It is a threat to every homeowner in the country.
How to identify Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites are social insects, and they have their own classification that designates their roles in the termite colony. These termite classifications also have their own unique physical appearance.
The termite reproductive group includes the queen, king, and alates. The reproductive are important because they are the ones who create and produce more termites. The largest termite is the queen, and it focuses on the reproduction of new termites. On the other hand, the king is much smaller than the queen. Alates are also known as swarmers or winged termites. They have dark brown and translucent bodies with milky-colored wings. They are long, and the average size of their wings are about 0.25 to 0.5 inch. Swarmers use their wings to look for new colonies or territory.
Soldiers and workers, on the other hand, do not have wings. Their primary duty is to look for food and guard the colony. Soldiers are less than 0.25 inches with cream-colored bodies. They can chew woods and move objects easily because of their small jaws. In contrast, soldiers are known as large mandibles. Their bodies are wide and flat, and their heads are rectangular in shape. If you do not look closely, you might think that it is the same for the workers. But their heads are much darker in color.
The queen is considered primaries because it controls everything in the colony. The king, on the other hand, is considered secondary because it has the ability to reproduces. The rest of the termites helps in food collection and protecting the colony.
Where do Eastern Subterranean Termites live
One of the best place for eastern subterranean termites are under the ground for them to easily get the available food and organic materials. Eastern subterranean termites also target buildings and homes. They stay in the basement or the walls where people cannot notice easily. Crawl spaces, damp areas, and sheds are also their favorite spot for infestation. Eastern subterranean termites can be seen everywhere, and there are well-distributed across the country. It would be best if you pay more attention to your home and do not every change slide.
Eastern Subterranean Termite Signs of Infestation
Eastern Subterranean termite can occur on the exterior and interior area of your home. Once you notice tail-look signs on the paint or any part of your home, it could be an example of termite infestation. Pay close attention to the mud tubes available in the different areas of your home. Mud tubes look like a tunnel that is made of woods and soil. It connects the termites to the other areas of the house and helps them gather and get food easily back in the colony. You should also pay close attention to the softwoods in your home. You can see notice it as you tap the wood. If it has a hollow sound, blistering or darkening structure, bubbling, and uneven paint with small feces that looks like dust, it can be a sign of termite infestation. The discarded wings that you can see near your windowsills and door can also be a sign of eastern subterranean termite infestation.
If you notice flying termites in your home, that can be an indication of swarming. It means that the termites are looking for another place to build their colony. Please do not take this for granted because it can cause more damage than you think. Swarming is the initial sign of termite problems, and it happens if the weather is warmer.
What is the life cycle of eastern subterranean termite?
The life cycle of termites starts with swarming. Once the queen located a place where they can stay, she will start laying eggs. The queen and king will then take good care of the eggs until they become soldiers or workers. After several weeks, the termite nymphs will hatch. If the queen reached the maximum egg production, the colony would be equipped with soldiers and workers.
What are the threats that subterranean termite provides
It is important to note that subterranean termites can cause great damage to your home. The termite’s jaws are hard and often bite off the fragments of food one after the other. Even a small colony can destroy a foundation of a building and make it collapse. That is the reason why subterranean termites can create huge financial damage to your account. The termite colony can mature easily, and they can swarm all over the place and spread the colony. Do not let this happen without knowing a single clue.
What are the key habits of subterranean termites
The subterranean termite is a pest that undergoes a caste system. The most important subterranean termite is the queen. She serves as a reproductive that aims to establish and build the economy. On the other hand, worker termites are the largest group that focuses on repairing the nests, looking for food, and taking good care of the termite eggs. The soldiers are equipped with armored heads and a large mandible that serves as protective gear if the colony is under attack.
How to get completely remove the eastern subterranean termite?
Pest management is one of the best ways to get rid of the eastern subterranean termite. It prevents termite activity from spreading, and it helps you secure your home. Remember, pest control can prevent can be your first aid in case signs of infestation happens. If you want to get rid of the entire colony of termites or avoid swarmers to create new colonies, here are the things that you need to think about.
Minimize the water link near your home
Remember, subterranean termites are attracted to moisture. Once they contact soil, termites may easily create a new colony. You can minimize the contact of water by diverting the water away using downspouts and splash blocks.
Reduce the humidity in your home
The humidity in equipped with proper ventilation can be a shelter tube for the subterranean termite. It would also be best if you will not bury wood scraps in your yard because it may mean that you are inviting the subterranean termites to live in your home. They will have the things that they need from water, food, and shelter.
Make sure to seal off the crevices and cracks in your home’s foundation to minimize the possibility of termites infesting your home. Minimize the contact with soil, or maintain the gap between the wood and soil in your building.
Set up a barrier
To prevent termite infestation, it would be best if you set up a barrier. This barrier will help you prevent the termites from reaching your home. Try to examine the structural foundation of your house to know where to put the barrier.
Set up Traps
Traps can be a good way to prevent worker termites from infesting your home. It can be a good way to poison them. First, you set up the traps with poison, and the worker termites will get it as their food. They will get the poison and bring it back to their colony. It is a good termite control and prevents the termites from building more colonies.
The subterranean termite is a destructive pest
You cannot easily know that they are attacking your home. It would be best to hire a professional who has the knowledge and know the processes in dealing with termites.
Final Thoughts
Termites are one of the dangerous pests that you can have. Once they swarm in your house, it can cost you thousands of dollars. Protecting your home comes with control. It would be best if you try to observe the changes in your home.
