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Drywood Termites
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Common Name: Drywood termites - Kalotermes
Other Names: Dark southeastern drywood termite
Origin: Native to the southeastern United States, and found from Louisiana to Florida and north to Virginia.
Biology: The genus Kalotermes once included all 10 species of Drywood termites, but now has a single species in it for North American termites, as the other nine species have been delegated to four other genera. Alates swarm during the daytime, usually in late summer. This species infests dead wood in outdoor settings as well as the wood of structures somewhat infrequently.
Identification: Typical of the Drywood termites the alates have no fontanelle, but they do have a single ocellus next to each compound eye. The body color is dark reddish orange and the wings have a dark tint to them. The antennae have less than 22 segments. On the wings there are 3 thickened veins that run from the base to the wing tip along the leading edge, and all three veins run parallel to each other to the tip. The soldiers have a large pair of jaws protruding out in front of the head, and the jaws are not symmetrical, as they have unequal numbers of teeth or projections along their inner margin. The antennae are composed of from 12 to 13 segments, and the third segment is not at long as the fourth and fifth combined.
Characteristics Important in Control: Control is by either fumigation of structures or infested objects, or by injection of a XT2000 Organic Orange Oil Plus into the galleries in the wood.
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813 935-7554 |
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Subterranean Termites
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Common Name: Reticulitermes - subterranean termites
Origin: Six species of native termites in this genus occur in
North America, occurring throughout the country in all states and in Canada.
These are the common and destructive soil-dwelling termites.
Biology: With very rare exception colonies are located in the
ground, with foraging done from these colonies into structures or other wood
sources. There is a true worker caste, with adult workers, soldiers, and alates
in the colony. It is possible that a colony can have up to two hundred thousand
workers or more, and several separate colonies may exist near and be foraging
in a single structure. Swarming by the alates may consist of many hundreds of
alates from the colony, and many colonies in an area releasing swarmers simultaneously.
This usually occurs in late morning to mid-day on a sunny day following a rainfall.
Most swarming is in the spring, but fall swarms are also common, and a colony
will be at least 3 years old before it produces swarmers. The wings are shed
shortly after the flight takes place.
Identification: Alates are a shiny dark brown to black, and
have both a fontanelle as well as a single ocellus near each compound eye. The
antennae have less than 18 segments. The wings are very light colored to white
and are without hairs on them. There are 2 thickened veins that run parallel
to each other from the base to the tip along the leading edge of the wing, and
numerous short veins connect these two long veins. Soldiers have head capsules
that are as long as the rest of the body, and the sides of the head are parallel.
The jaws are symmetrical and without teeth along their inner margin, and they
remain parallel to each other without having the tips crossing.
Characteristics Important in Control: Control is primarily by
soil applications of residual insecticides, either as pretreatments or as treatment
post-construction. Termidor termiticide has been proven to be the most effective
in eliminating underground colonies altogether. Control of excessive moisture
conditions and unnecessary wood materials under or near the structure are preventive
measures.
Call Chet’s Termite & Pest Management TODAY
To schedule your FREE inspection.
813 935-7554 |
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