ü Did you know?
ü Termite have been around since the
time of the dinosaurs!
ü All termite are social insects and
raise their young as a group.
ü The total weight of all of the
termite in the world is more than the weight of all the humans in the world.
ü Termite colonies eat non-stop, 24
hours a day, Thirty days in a month and longer
ü Termite have wings that they shed
once they have found a good place to build a nest.
ü Termite are known as "silent
destroyer" because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and
even wallpaper undetected.
ü There are about 300 termite species
in the Pakistan.
ü Each year, termite cause more than
billion Rupees in property damage in Pakistan
ü The most damaging and silent
destroyer insects that attack structural wood are termite.
Termite known as Demak in Punjab Pakistan, Termites are closely related to
cockroaches, but they are different from almost all other insects because they
can convert the cellulose of wood into starches and sugar and use it for
nutrition. They can do this because of a mutually beneficial association with
microorganisms in their digestive tracts that convert cellulose into simple
substances that termites can digest. In nature, termites help convert dead wood
and other materials containing cellulose into humus. Entomologists have
described about 300 species of termites for the entire Pakistan however There
are 3 species of termites in the Pakistan that require man’s attention to a
greater or lesser extent.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean
termites are native, soil-inhabiting insects that feed on wood, paper and
similar cellulose containing materials. The economic importance of subterranean
termite attacks on buildings is related to the fact that wood members of a
building closest to the soil, such as sills, joists, studs, girders and other
important load bearing elements of construction are most likely to be severely
damaged by termites. Failure to stop termite attacks can cause loss of support.
Other forms of building deterioration, such as sagging walls, leaking surfaces
and wood decay can follow. Heated buildings where wood is in direct contact
with or in close proximity to the soil offer termites the ideal environment, a
favorable year round climate and an abundant sheltered food source.
Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies. Three castes can
be found there reproductive’s, workers and soldiers. The winged primary reproductive
adult Swarmer Termite. (Flying termite)
is the form most often seen. These swarmer termites are dark colored with
bodies about 3/8 of an inch long. They have two pairs of semitransparent wings of identical size and shape that extend
beyond the body to twice its length. The antennae or feelers, like those of all
termites, resemble a string of little globular beads. Large numbers of winged
individuals emerge on warm sunny days after a rain as early as March or April
but usually in late April.
Queen and King to early May After Reproductive Termites taking flight and
finding a mate, the termites lose their wings, search out a place to start a
nest, mate and begin rearing the first group of workers. The mated female
becomes the queen and the male the king. In very large colonies, a
secondary reproductive caste may also be seen.
These supplemental or secondary reproductive’s
mate and reproduce within the existing colony. These termites are light colored
and usually. Secondary have two pairs of short wing Reproductive. Usually, they
exist in addition to the regular mature queen but may become the most important
source of eggs in the colony. They are formed as needed and can also take the
place of the queen if she is injured or dies. Thus strong colonies have
multiple queens. These additional reproductive’s also give the colony a chance
to spread through the process of “budding,” where a number of workers or
secondary reproductive’s can be cut off from the main colony and form a new,
self-sufficient colony.
The worker caste makes up the bulk of the colony and
is directly responsible for damage to wood. Workers are about 1/4-inch long,
whitish colored and soft-bodied. Termite workers are sterile and dedicate their
lives to the upkeep, feeding and sanitation work of the colony. Their need for
moist, humid environments requires workers to live within the ground or in mud
tubes that are constructed up into the wood they are attacking. Workers are
rarely seen unless infested wood is examined or the mud tubes are broken open.
Because of their thin skin, workers will dry up and die within three to six
hours if exposed to the drying conditions outside the nests. The nymphs and
adult workers both have thin, bead like antennae and differ only in size.
The soldier caste is another form found in colonies.
Their primary function is defense of the colony soldiers are easily recognized
by their large, brownish, well-developed heads and jaws/mandibles. Their
responsibility is defending the colony from attack by ants or other termites.
The sterile soldiers are far less numerous than the workers. They hide within
the mud tubes and in the nest, and will not be seen unless the wood or mud
tubes are disturbed. Many people confuse the winged primary reproductive
termite with flying ants, which can also be found swarming near structures.
A colony,
usually between two and six years old, becomes large enough to produce swarmer
termites.
At this
time, the colony consists of thousands of individuals, both growing and mature.
When swarming termite occurs, both winged males and females emerge from the
colony, pair off and fly away to begin new colonies. They lose their wings and
construct a small cell in or near wood where they mate, reproduce and rear the
first group of workers.
The mated
female becomes the queen and the
male the king Usually the large
numbers of swarmer termite never survive to establish colonies but are preyed
upon by birds, toads and other animals, or they die from adverse environmental
conditions. Indoors, their usual fate is to die harmlessly within a few days.
Swarming
activity occurs during daylight hours over several days or weeks and usually
follows a rain. Environmental conditions such as heat, light and moisture
trigger emergence of swarmer termites
A well-established
colony of termites may develop hundreds to thousands of winged kings and queens
depending on the species. This usually occurs during the time of year best
suited to the needs of the termite. Subterranean termites prefer warmth and
there must be enough moisture present so that they will not desiccate.
Therefore, on the first warm day following the first spring rains, subterranean
termites frequently emerge from their swarm tubes in great numbers. However, in
Pakistan it is not uncommon to see subterranean termites swarm in other seasons
of the year. Our records show swarming has occurred in every month of the year.
The act of swarming is dangerous for termites.
Winged
termites tend to be weak fliers and are easy food for hungry birds and predacious
insects.
Generally,
less than three percent of the swarming termites survive. The wind has a strong
influence upon the direction and distance traveled by the new kings and queens.
Once they have emerged from the nest, the primary reproductive’s eventually
strike the ground out of exhaustion or by accident. Random pairing commences at
once. The queen seeks a suitable location to start another colony. While she is
doing this, a king or several kings line up and follow behind her.
Before
mating takes place termites break off their wings along a basal suture.
Subterranean termite queens usually locate their original nests in the soil,
frequently near buried wood.
Once mating
has occurred, the queen produces eggs of the desired caste. Subterranean
termites develop through three growth stages egg, nymph and adult.
A fertilized
female or queen produces eggs. The
young termites hatching from the eggs are called nymphs and are white or pale
cream colored, soft bodied and blind. They have three pairs of legs and, though
capable of moving about, must first be cared for by other termites. Later, the
nymphs can feed on wood and take care of themselves. In a colony, some nymphs
develop large heads with a hard, brown skin and large jaws or mandibles. These
individuals are soldier termites. Other nymphs develop two pairs of wing pads
on their backs, and at the final molt to the adult, emerge as dark colored,
winged, reproductive with fully developed eyes. In very large colonies, some
of the developing potential reproductive’s become re productively mature males
and females but with arrested wing development. These supplemental reproductive’s
may mate within the colony and never leave it.
Colony
history during the spring or summer months, a mated pair of winged termites
establishes a new colony beginning with the young hatching from the small
number of eggs first produced by the female. These nymphs become workers, more
young are produced and the colony grows.
A second
critical need of subterranean termites is a constant source of wood or
cellulose-containing material from which they derive their nutrition. Paper,
cotton, burlap or other plant products are often actively attacked and consumed
by subterranean termites. Unlike the carpenter ant, termites cannot hibernate
and – must continue to feed and be active throughout the winter. Severe winter
cold prevents termites in the woodland from feeding in stumps above ground
during much of the winter. However, wood in close contact with floor common in
house design beginning provides a favorable habitat during winter.
Worker termites and older nymphs consume wood and share their nourishment with the
developing young, other workers, soldiers and reproductive’s.
Certain
types of fungi play an important role in a termite’s life. Termites are highly
attracted to odors produced by wood decaying fungi that, through the decaying
process, make the wood easier to penetrate. In some instances, the fungus
provides a source of nitrogen in the termite diet. Termite colonies are remarkably
non-combative. It is entirely possible for ants and termites to infest the same
building, each producing its winged adults at the appropriate time. There is
interaction only if the ant colony finds it expedient to feed upon individuals
of the termite colony.
Termites can
detect vibrations through their legs. They are unable to hear noises near their
nests, but are immediately alerted when their nest is tapped. When alarmed, the
soldier termites butt their heads against the gallery walls to initiate the
vibrations that will warn the colony. Under certain circumstances it is
possible to hear this “ticking” sound.
Termite shelter
tubes that the termites build over the surface of the foundation to reach the wood
these tubes are usually 1/4-1/2-inch wide. Termites perish rapidly under dry
conditions, so they Termite shelter tube build these mud tubes to maintain
correct humidity throughout the colony.
Dry wood Termites
This termite is not commonly found in Pakistan
however, a brief discussion is provided for reference. Dry wood termites live
and feed in dry, sound wood and can cause structural damage. Usually
significant damage requires a longer period (as compared to subterranean
termites) to occur since dry wood termite colonies develop at a slower rate.
Also, since these termites live and feed inside sound wood, external damage
signs may go undetected for years. Infestations may be found in structural
timber and wood work in buildings, furniture, telephone poles, lumber stacked
in lumberyards, paper, cloth, fiber insulation boards and in other products
containing cellulose. Identification Dry wood and subterranean termites are
similar in general shape and conformation but differ slightly in size and
coloration. They are found in colonies consisting of three castes
Reproductive’s, workers and soldiers. Dry wood
winged reproductive’s (primary reproductive’s, swarmers or alates) generally
are larger than subterranean termites with dark brown, smoky gray or almost
clear wings. The body color may vary from dark brown to light yellowish-tan.
The dry wood
termite worker and soldier castes closely resemble those of subterranean
termites. In most dry wood termite species, there is no true worker caste as
this function is taken over by nymphs. Biology and Habits Nymphs hatch from the
eggs within several weeks and are cared for by the new king and queen. After
two molts nymphs assume the role of workers and begin to feed and care for the
original pair. Eggs are not deposited continuously; in fact, very few are
deposited during the first year. In subsequent years, the young queen matures
and begins to lay more eggs. Eventually, the colony stabilizes when the queen
reaches maximum egg production. At that point the colony contains eggs, nymphs,
workers, soldiers and reproductive’s. If the queen dies, secondary reproductive’s
take over the queen’s duties. Maximum size of a colony depends on several
factors such as location, food availability and environmental conditions. Some
colonies remain small, but adjacent, multiple colonies may contain up to ten
thousand individuals. The colony grows through the queen’s increased egg
production and the accumulation of long-lived individuals.
After a dry
wood termite colony has matured, usually requiring several years, swarmers are
produced. The swarming activity occurs at dusk or in the evening, and the
swarmers fly towards areas of greatest light intensity, gathering around lights
or illuminated windows. Emergence is not often associated with a definite
season of the year; most dry wood termites emerge during the summer. Certain environmental
conditions, such as heat, light and moisture trigger the emergence of swarmers,
and each species has a definite set of conditions under which swarming occurs.
The number of swarmers is in proportion to the age and size of the colony while
environmental conditions regulate the numbers coming forth from the colony.
Critical Needs Dry wood termites derive their nutrition from wood and other
material containing cellulose. In fact, the greater the cellulose content of a
plant or plant product, the more attractive it is to dry wood termites. Dry wood
termites often actively consume paper, cotton, burlap or other plant products.
These termites are dependent on large numbers of one-celled microorganisms that
exist in the termite gut for cellulose digestion. The microorganisms serve to
break down wood particles to simpler compounds that termites can absorb as
food.
Functional
older nymphs consume wood and share their nourishment with the developing young,
Moisture is not as important to drywood termites as it is to the existence of
subterranean termites. They require no contact with the soil or with any source
of moisture. Dry wood termites extract water from the wood on which they feed
and from water formed internally by digestive processes. They require as little
as 2 1/2 to 3 percent moisture, but prefer wood with 10 percent moisture
content.
Damp wood Termites
Damp wood
termites are not native to Pakistan and are of minor importance from a world
stand point, but they make up a distinct habitat group.
Damp wood
termites locate their colonies in damp, often decaying wood; but once
established, they can extend their activities into sound and even relatively
dry wood. They enter wood directly at the time of swarming and always confine
their work to wood. They are occasionally responsible for serious damage to
wooden structures, usually in conjunction with fungus attack, since the
moisture requirements of both are similar. Flights (swarming) of the damp wood
termites usually occur at dusk. Some flights occur throughout the entire year;
however, peak annual swarming takes place in late summer and fall. The winged
reproductive of damp wood termites may be an inch or more long, including the
wings; the wings are from 7/8 to an inch long. The body is light cinnamon-brown;
the wings are light to dark brown, heavily veined, and leathery in appearance.
The soldiers are 3/8- to 3/4-inch long, depending upon the in star in which
they assumed their typical soldier characteristics. This varies with the age of
the colony, which is somewhat true of many species of termites. As with other
members of this family, there is no worker class. The nymphs are about 1/2-inch
long.
Termite control represents a major portion of pest control work. No other type of pest control involves as many variables that affect the work to be done or the results obtained. Technicians involved in termite control must understanding of the biology and unique habits of the termites, including their food, moisture and temperature requirements. Technicians must also have knowledge of building construction as well as the equipment, chemicals and safety precautions involved in termite control.