Subterranean Termites
- Common Name: Subterranean Termites
- Scientific Name: Various Species
The majority of termite infestations in North America are perpetuated by Subterranean Termites. Swarmers are around 3/8” long including wings and have a dark brown body which can almost appear black. Their wings on the other hand appear almost transluscent and are very light brown. Soldiers appear with dark brown or black mandibles with a large rectangular head in proportion to their body. Workers appear light brown to white. They have a circular head and oval shaped body.
Subterranean Termite colonies can consist of up to 60,000 workers. Like other termite varieties, Subtteranean Termite swarmers appear after the colony has existed for around three to four years. A single queen will produce between 5,000 and 10,000 eggs a year and can live up to 30 years.
Subterranean Termites nest in the ground. Depth wise, they are located inbetween the frost line and the water table. The mud tubes which appear around areas of infestation are built by the termites to connect their nest to food sources. Sometimes a nest will spawn secondary colonies which will infest areas with a good supply of moisture.
Effectively controlling Subterranean Termites is important due to the structural damage they can inflict. Since subterranean termites require moisture, treatment is similar to treating for Dampwood Termites. First remove all contact between wood and soil. Get rid of any wood such as logs, planks, etc. which they might be feeding on. To help avoid secondary colonies locating themselves in your structure, reduce the moisture level of the wood. Check for leaks or any other source of moisture and eliminate it. Next creating a chemical barrier between the termites and the structure to prevent infiltration can be effective. You can do this using a barrier treatment product such as Termidor. Since subterranean termites can enter through cracks as small as 1-2mm, generally chemical treatment will be more effective the attempting to remove all entry points. Treatment of secondary subterranean termite colonies located in moist wood can be done by using a aerosol or dust labeled for subterranean termites.
Effectively controlling Subterranean Termites is important due to the structural damage they can inflict. Since subterranean termites require moisture, treatment is similar to treating for Dampwood Termites. First remove all contact between wood and soil. Get rid of any wood such as logs, planks, etc. which they might be feeding on. To help avoid secondary colonies locating themselves in your structure, reduce the moisture level of the wood. Check for leaks or any other source of moisture and eliminate it. Next creating a chemical barrier between the termites and the structure to prevent infiltration can be effective. You can do this using a barrier treatment product such as Termidor. Since subterranean termites can enter through cracks as small as 1-2mm, generally chemical treatment will be more effective the attempting to remove all entry points. Treatment of secondary subterranean termite colonies located in moist wood can be done by using a aerosol or dust labeled for subterranean termites.