Termites are commonly referred to as the silent destroyer. This came about due to the fact that they can easily hide and thrive within your home or yard without any immediate or visible signs of destruction. All termites are known to consume plant materials which are cellulose-based. Regrettably, every single home despite its construction style is capable of providing this type of food thereby sustain a termite infestation.
Different types of termites.
Before you can effectively get rid of termites from your home and prevent any damages, it is important for you to know the different types of termites. The reason for this is because the moisture requirement and nesting behavior usually vary from one type of termite to the next. Having this information is crucial as it will help you make use of the right methods to get rid of them from your home or yard. Seen below are the different types of termites available.
1. Drywood Termites.
It is quite common as it is found all over the world. They are easy to recognize since they leave behind hexagonal pellets after feeding on an untreated wood. They eat the wood from the inside thereby leaving it hollow. When touched, the damaged wood disintegrates. There are three types of Drywood termites which you can easily identify by looking at their physical appearance.
West Indian
The length of their body can measure about 6 mm. The width of the head measures more than 1 mm and is rough and has not frontal ridge. They are known to swarm at night.
Indo-Malaysian
Their body length measures no more than 5 mm with a head width of less than 1 mm. They tend to swarm in the morning.
Western
Their body is dark brown in color with a reddish-brown head. They are known to swarm during the day.
2. Subterranean Termites.
It is the second most popular type of termite. It is usually found in buildings built on a raised foundation. They only survive underground due to the fact that they require a good amount of moisture for their survival. Below are the 3 types of subterranean termites.
Eastern Subterranean
They are common in North America and live in large swarms. They can easily be identified through the presence of mud tubes or the queen and king termite wings.
Western Subterranean
They normally find their way into your home through tiny cracks or gaps found in the foundation. They feed on different parts of furniture, walls or dressers that contain cellulose.
Desert Subterranean
As the name suggests they are common in deserts. Unlike other species they have long mouths. If you happen to come across a tiny mud tube dangling from a wooden wall, shelves or ceiling, this is a clear sign that the desert subterranean termites have infested your home.
Dampwood Termites.
They thrive in areas with high moisture. They do not have to stay underground to survive. They can therefore be found within wall spaces or next to water leaks. When compared to other termite species, they are much bigger.
Formosan Termite.
They are by far the most destructive termite species. They are easy to distinguish from other types of termites since their bodies are yellowish-brown in color. Due to their large colonies they can damage the wood within your premises within no time.
Termite species.
They exist within colonies. Since they live together they share the work load which includes gathering food and taking care of their young ones. Just like in a home where children and parents have different responsibilities, the roles of the termites within the colonies differ.
A termite can easily tear through and feed on anything made out of wood and as previously stated can easily damage property, furniture as well as books.