About Orange County

Eastern Subterranean Termites

Eastern Subterranean Termites The Eastern Subterranean termite is the most common and most widely distributed termite in North America. It is a problem for home owners from southern Ontario in Canada, south throughout the Eastern United States and as far west as Montana. This native American pest feeds on such cellulose materials as structural wood, wood fixtures, paper, books, and cotton. Occasionally, it will even attack the roots of shrubs and trees. A mature colony of Eastern Subterranean termites can range from a low of 20,000 to a high of 5 million workers, with an average of 300,000. The colony's queen will add 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year to the total. While Eastern Sub termite colonies are not the largest termite colonies you can find, there will often be more than one of them working in a single building. Signs of Easterns include dirt-colored tubes built to serve as protected paths from the earth to the wood the termites are feeding on, and the translucent wings shed by the kings and queens during swarming. Swarming usually occurs in the spring, but other, smaller swarms can occur throughout the summer and fall.

Some quick facts about Eastern Subs
* An average Eastern Sub termite colony can consume 5 grams of wood per day, the equivalent of 2 1/3 linear feet of a 2'x4' pine board annually.
* Colony growth is slow, and it may take years before swarmers are produced.
* Eastern Sub termites can enter buildings through cracks less than 1/16" wide.
* The termite colony is made up of different types (castes) of termites - each with separate work responsibilities.
* Although Eastern Sub termite colonies are largely located in the ground below the frost line, secondary colonies can exist above ground, and examples of true above ground colonies existing without any ground contact have been seen. However, such above ground colonies have access to moisture and often the source is a roof or plumbing leak.
* Eastern Sub termites will often build mud tubes for travel between their colonies and their food sources.
* The king and queen in a colony can live for 10 to 30 years, while workers live for about two years.

Whatever the species of termites, Termidor® termiticide/insecticide is your answer Fortunately, there is a solution to termite problems like those posed by Eastern Sub termites: It's Termidor, the world's most amazing termiticide. Tests have shown Termidor to be 100% effective against subterranean termites, even in the most challenging situations. It will completely eliminate your termites within 3 months of application. No exceptions. No excuses.

Introduction: Eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), are present and often damage structural timbers in buildings. When this damage becomes evident, it is usually the result of a few years of infestation (Figure 1.). Although damage by termites is a serious problem it is not a sudden onslaught that will cause a building to collapse in a few days. Generally, termite problems occur some years after construction. The risk of infestations can be reduced by avoiding certain faults or errors in construction, site grading and maintenance, or controlled through the application of insecticides.

Termites feed upon wood, including structural wood especially that which is in contact with soil. In addition they can also feed on old roots, stumps of trees, fallen tree limbs and branches on the ground, and similar materials. Termites have also been known to attack swimming pool liners and PVC pipes. They are beneficial when they aid in reduction of wood and similar cellulose products into compounds that can be used again by other living organisms. Occasionally termites attack living plants, including the roots of shrubs and trees. In buildings, in addition to structural wood, termites feed on cellulose materials such as wood fixtures, paper, books, cotton, and related products.

Description of termites
Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies within the ground and have specialized castes to perform specific colony functions. The termite colony has three castes: workers, soldiers, and the reproductives (primaries queens and males and the secondaries). The creamy-white workers are seldom seen unless a termite tube or infested wood is broken open (Figure 2.). It is the workers that feed on the wood and cause damage. Individual workers are believed to survive for up to five years. Soldiers have elongated yellowish heads with large jaws and are about the same size as the adult worker - one quarter-inch (Figure 3.). They are fewer in number than their associated workers, and must rely on the workers to feed them. Whenever the colony is invaded or a hole is made in a mud tube or piece of infested wood, the soldiers will use their jaws to defend the breach. The secondaries are supplementary reproductive females that occur in mature colonies under favorable conditions. The queens and males are dark-brown or black and about three-eighths to one-half inch long (Figure 4.). They have two pairs of translucent wings of equal length that break off shortly after swarming. Very often their shed wings are the only evidence of termites in a building. Swarms of winged termites usually emerge between late February and June.

Life Cycle
During late winter or early spring, swarms of the reproductive caste may be noticed in infested buildings. These dark-colored, winged termites are the stage most commonly seen, since the other castes do not expose themselves to light. Winged termites are attracted to light, and when they emerge within buildings, they swarm about doors and windows. After crawling or fluttering about for a short time, the termites break off their wings and locate a mate (not necessarily in that order) (Figure 5.) Each pair attempts to locate moist wood in contact with the soil so as to start a new colony, but few succeed. No damage is done by the winged forms.

 

How to recognize termites and termite damage
The presence of swarming termites or their wings alone is a sure sign that termites are working in a building. Winged termites are often confused with winged ants. Most species of ants in the house are only nuisances and, except for carpenter ants, do not damage wood. Because termites can cause severe structural damage it is necessary to be able to identify them. To tell the differences between winged termites and winged ants look at their waists (Figure 6.). An ant has a narrow, wasp-like waist, a termite a broad waist. The antennae or feelers of ants are L-shaped, whereas those of termites are straight. Furthermore, the four wings of termites are of equal length and nearly twice as long as the termite body, while ant wings are approximately equal to the length of the ant, and the fore and hind wings are of unequal length.

Wood attacked by termites has runways or passages which are coated with an earth-like material glued to the wood by the termites. Where the wood has been infested for some time, it may be largely hollowed out with passages. Upon breaking open such wood with a screwdriver or similar tool, many of the hidden worker termites spill out. Another sign of termites in the house is the presence of termite mud tubes (Figure 7.). The tubes are earth-colored because they are composed of soil, mostly sand particles. These shelter (earth-colored) tubes are made by termites primarily as a protected runway from the earth to the wood they feed on. These tubes also may serve as swarming exits for the winged termites. Look for these tubes on the basement foundation walls, on wooden posts, studs, mudsills, door and window trim. Wood embedded in earth or in concrete cellar floors (if it contacts soil, if the concrete is cracked, etc.) is especially susceptible to termites.

Where are some of the places you should look if you believe you have termites?
Most termite infestations occur in the basement or cellar areas and in the structural timbers immediately above the cellar walls, such as a mudsill, the studs, joists, subflooring, and the floors. Wood such as posts, steps, door frames, and trim embedded in an earth or concrete floor is especially susceptible to termite infestation. Wood siding, window frames, steps, and similar materials covered by earth or resting on the ground may also be attacked by termites. Where the termite infestation is extensive, the flooring and framework in the walls can be damaged by termites: this is often the case where houses are built on concrete slabs. Termites especially favor areas around furnaces, chimneys, hot water heaters, and hot water pipes that provide warmth during cold months.

The extent of damage to structural timbers and woodwork can be determined by a careful inspection of the building. Although you may choose to make the inspection yourself, we recommend you have a professional pest control operator (PCO) or a qualified consulting engineer inspect the building. These individuals have the experience in detecting termite infestations that many people would otherwise overlook.

All woodwork in suspect areas should be probed for soundness and visually inspected for any sign of mud tunnels. An awl, ice pick, screwdriver, or similar instrument is commonly used to probe the wood. After the area and extent of infestation are determined, control measures can be planned.

Termite control
Control of termites in a building can involve structural alteration and/or the application of an insecticide registered for use in controlling termites. Either method when used alone may provide the desired results, but the most satisfactory results are often obtained when the two methods are combined.
Structural Control Methods - The less suitable the site or structure is for termites, the less likely a colony will become established and flourish. Therefore, the following are considered beneficial in preventing and controlling termites:

Insecticidal Management
Companies doing termite treatment will provide you with an estimate (proposal) that includes an inspection report, a contract, a detailed map of your house or building showing the exact locations and types of treatment, and a guarantee of their work. Obtain more than one estimate for the sake of comparison.

Soil termiticide barriers - The objective is to place a chemical (termiticide) barrier between termites and the structure to be protected. Pre-construction treatment consists of applying a termiticide before the foundation is poured to create a vertical barrier onto sub-slab soil and a horizontal barrier to soil around the perimeter of the foundation. Post-construction treatment consists of drilling holes through slabs and applying a termiticide into the sub-slab soil and/or applying a termiticide to the soil around the perimeter of the foundation. Pyrethroid termiticides such as permethrin, cypermethrin, and bifenthrin repel termites from the treatment barriers.

Termiticide foam - The soil termiticide is mixed with a foaming agent inside special foam-generating equipment, which mixes the foam to the proper consistency. The termiticide foam is used in areas that can not be treated with a soil termiticide such as inaccessible voids and/or around wells or cisterns. Foams are used to supplement the soil termiticide in completing the chemical barrier. They do not replace the soil termiticide.

Baits - In recent year's baits have become available for population control of subterranean termites. One such approach is the monitoring-baiting program that incorporates an insecticide within a cellulose bait matrix. When worker or soldier termites encounter the bait they leave a chemical (pheromone) trail that is followed by other colony members to the bait. Termites, which feed on the bait, are killed, and when enough colony members die, so does the colony. Stations containing a monitoring device are first installed in the soil around a structure. When termites are found in the station, the monitoring device is replaced with insecticide-laced bait. Insecticides such as hexaflumuron and diflubenzuron are insect growth regulators that prevent successful molting and development of subterranean termites. Sulfluramid is a slow acting insecticide.

Wood treatments - Products containing disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (borates) are designed to treat the termite's food source, wood. These products are applied directly to bare wood, where they penetrate and deposit micro-crystals of boric acid in the wood eliminating active infestations of termites and providing a degree of protection against future infestations. These products are also used on a pre-treatment basis in the early stages of home construction when they can be applied to exposed wood.

The Formosan subterranean termite

Formosan Subterranean Termites
Formosan termites are one of several termite species that threaten homes and other structures in Hawaii and the southern half of the continental United States. Originally from mainland China, Formosans have been established in the continental U.S. for only about 50 years. Unfortunately, they are more vigorous and aggressive and successful than native termites. In fact, the Formosan termite has been called the "Super" termite because of its large colonies and its ability to consume vast amounts of wood in a relatively short time. A mature colony of Formosan termites can number in the millions and consume as much as 13 ounces of wood per day. As a result, Formosans can severely damage a structure in as little as three months. Formosan termites are most visible during their annual mating flight. However, they actually cause more damage after the swarm is over. For this reason, it's extremely important to start a control program as soon as you find out that you have Formosan termites on your property.

Some quick facts about Formosan termites

* Formosan colonies are big. While native subterranean termite colonies might support an average of 300,000 workers, for example, Formosan colonies can average millions of workers - all of them foraging for food (wood).

* A typical colony of Formosan termites could forage an area more than one acre in diameter.

* As Formosans infest a structure, they use soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces to build hard nests called cartons within walls. Large cartons can actually cause walls to bulge. These nests house thousands of termites as well as hold moisture. Once established, Formosans can live indefinitely without soil contact.

* Formosan termites can also infest and destroy otherwise healthy trees.

* Swarmers are larger than native species, and they swarm in the evening and later in the year (May-June).

* Soldiers comprise about 10% of the colony.

* Formosans will even attack and destroy non-wood materials. They have been known to chew through plaster, plastics, asphalt, and even thin sheets of soft metals like lead and copper.

* Queens can produce 1,000 eggs a day.

The Formosan subterranean termite (FST), Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is considered to be one of the most destructive termite species in the world today. This species is not native to North Carolina (or to the United States). International commerce has been largely responsible for its spread from its native range in southern China to Taiwan (formerly called Formosa from which it gets its common name) and to Japan. Within the last 100 years it has become established in South Africa, Hawaii and parts of the continental United States. It is commonly believed that the Formosan subterranean termite was accidentally transported to port cities along the Gulf of Mexico and southeast Atlantic coast by ships returning from the Pacific at the end of World War II. The first record of the termite's appearance in the continental U.S. was at Charleston, SC in 1957. About eight years later, it was discovered in a shipyard in Houston, Texas and colonies were subsequently found in Galveston, TX, and New Orleans, LA. Currently, Formosan termites are found in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. An isolated population was found near San Diego, CA in 1992.

The Formosan subterranean termite has been called the "Super Termite" because of the its ability to consume wood and increase its colony size much quicker than our native termite species. The queen can live for 15 years and can produce about 2,000 eggs a day. The workers collect food and maintain the nest while the soldiers (image shown above) defend the colony. They can live 3-5 years. As a result, a single colony can contain well over one million termites and cover an area over 300 feet. A mature colony will produce a new group of "alates" or swarmers (winged kings and queens) which are darker in color than workers. Formosan termites usually swarm at dusk from April through June. FST swarmers can be distinguished from our native termite species by their size and wing characteristics. The soldiers (show in image above) have a distinct oval or egg-shaped head compared to the rectangular head on soldiers of our native subterranean species.

These termites have a tremendous appetite and will use any new food sources as long as there is a water source nearby. Like other termites, they will consume almost any item containing cellulose including the wood in buildings along with paper products and even live trees, crops and plants. Formosan termites can penetrate gaps in plaster, plastic and asphalt to reach a new food source. The termites may chew through these materials. However, contrary to popular belief, they do not "dissolve" these materials.

According to some estimates, Formosan subterranean termites costs consumers more than $1 billion a year, including the cost of repairs. In New Orleans alone, it's estimated that the pest infests as many as 30 percent of the trees and can cost individual homeowners several thousand dollars a year in damage and control costs.

Western Subterranean Termites

The Western Subterranean termite is the most common and most widely distributed termite in the western half of North America. It is a problem for homeowners from British Columbia in Canada south to western Mexico and east as far as Idaho and Nevada. This native American pest can enter structures through cracks less than 1/16" wide, even the minute openings found in concrete slabs, around drain pipes, and between the slab and the foundation. Western Subterranean termite colonies are usually located in the ground below the frost line but above the water table and rock formations. They are typically detected by the presence of the mud tubes they construct, or when large numbers of winged termites "swarm" or leave the colony to search out mates. Swarms occur in the daytime, and in California they occur on warm, sunny days during the fall, winter or early spring. In the northern sections of the termites' range, spring swarms commonly occur in the absence of rainfall.

Some quick facts about Western Sub termites

* Although Western Sub termite colonies are largely located in the ground, secondary colonies can exist above ground if there is a constant source of moisture.

* Western Sub termites will often build mud tubes for travel between their colonies and their food sources.

* Damage caused by Western termites is most commonly found in the basement and at ground level, although the termites will attack wood at higher levels.

* Development from eggs to adults may take more than 5 months, and workers may live from 3-5 years.

* Swarmers are usually produced before the third or fourth year.

* Research has shown that populations are higher in urban areas than in undeveloped habitats. The termites prefer soil temperatures between 84-90° F - never above 104° F.

Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae: Reticulitermes hesperus Banks, 1920 (Western Subterranean Termite)
On warm sunny days following the first autumn rains, swarms of the winged adult forms of this termite are commonly noticed emerging from frame houses, fence posts, and other wooden structures that touch soil. The species has a high humidity requrement, which forces it to maintain contact with the ground, travelling up and down between its subterranean galleries and the wood through protected cracks in mortar or concrete foundations, or through earthen tubes that it constructs from soil, saliva, and chewed bits of wood.

In Los Angeles and much of the west, this is the species that causes the greatest damage. It is probably safe to say that the majority of older houses in the Los Angeles area are infested to some degree with this termite. In general, however, damage is not noticeable until tunneling activity has proceeded to the point of weakening structural members in stressed areas, such as flooring and stairways. Severe damage requires a period of years to develop: our termites do not reduce a house to a pile of sawdust overnight! Homeowners are urged to have periodic inspections to determine the presence of termites. This is simply good insurance and should be done regardless of how many preventative methods were employed in the original construction. This species is distinguished from others that are prevalent in the basin by the black heads of its sexual forms, its earthen tubes, and the fact that it does not make pellet piles. Its tunneling pattern is also different: the workers attack wood only in the soft spring growth region of the annual rings. Thus a cross-section of an infested timber shows a characteristic pattern of concentric circles or arcs.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites live in dry (usually <12% moisture), sound wood and derive their moisture requirements from the wood they consume. Infestations can occur in structural timbers in buildings, pieces of furniture, flooring, doors and doorframes, window trim, wooden picture frames, and other isolated pieces of wood. Their colonies are relatively small, with a few thousand members lacking the true worker caste, and there are often multiple colonies in the same structure.

Drywood termites do not need a connection to soil and there is no soil in their feeding galleries. They do not build mud tunnels; they construct large, irregular galleries that run across and with the wood grain, with a very smooth, clean, and sandpaper-like appearance. The galleries are connected by openings small enough for one termite to pass through. The sure sign of drywood termite feeding is their fecal pellets that are ejected from the galleries via kickout holes, often found right below the damaged wood. These pellets are quite distinctive, and are hard, elongate-oval with rounded ends, and have six concave sides.

Drywood species Approximately 400 global species of drywood termite species are known, but only a few species are important in the United States. Powderpost or "furniture termites" (Cryptotermes spp.) have small fecal pellets and are smaller in size than other drywood termites. Their feeding in furniture or movable wooden objects can reduce wood to a fine powder. They can be found in Florida, southern Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. The most widespread species is the tropical rough-headed powderpost termite (C. brevis), which is easily distributed by human activity such as transporting infested furniture, and it has been found as far west as Los Angeles and as far north as Ontario, Canada. The other main group of drywood termites is Incisitermes spp. The most common species in the west is the western drywood termite (I. minor), which is found in southern California, Arizona, Utah, and has become established in Florida. This species infests both dead sections of living trees and wooden articles in homes. The western drywood termite swarming period is midday on warm, sunny days and typically occurs from September-October. However, in Arizona, swarming occurs at night in July. The southeastern drywood termite (I. snyderi) is found primarily in seven southeastern states, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. This species swarms at night, peaking between 8-10 pm, and is attracted to lights. The peak time period for swarming is late May through mid-June. If you believe your home may be in danger from Drywood Termites, contact a Termidor pest control professional now.

Drywood termites generally live (feed and nest) in undecayed wood which has a very low moisture content. Unlike subterranean termites, they do not require any contact with the soil in order to live. Thus, they can seriously damage movable wooden objects such as furniture. In the United States, drywood termites are found in a narrow strip from Virginia, south to Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico and from Mexico to northern California on the Pacific coast.

Shading represents areas where drywood termites
are commonly found in the United States

A male and female pair work their way into the wood chosen for the nest. The opening through which they enter the wood is sealed with a plug of brown cement-like material about 1/8-inch in diameter. Behind this plug they excavate a chamber where the queen lays the first eggs. The nymphs which hatch from these eggs perform the work of the colony. Soldiers and reproductives develop from these nymphs. There is no distinct worker caste as in subterranean termites.


During the swarming season, nymphs make round holes 1/16- to 1/8-inch in diameter through which the reproductive forms leave the wood. When swarming is completed, these holes are plugged in the same way as the entrance holes.  Damage done by drywood termites is entirely different from that caused by subterranean termites. These termites cut across the grain of the wood, excavating large chambers which are connected by small tunnels.

Typical drywood termite damage. 
Note that the galleries are extensive and
that they cut across several annual rings.

The chambers and tunnels being used by the colony are kept clean. Excreta and other debris are stored in unused chambers or cast out through small openings in the wood.


Drywood Termite Fecal  Pellets Frass
Excretal pellets (frass) are a distinguishing characteristic of non-subterranean termites. These pellets are hard and have six distinct concave surfaces on the sides; only the ends are rounded. Certain anobiid (powder post) beetles also eject pellets from wood in which they feed.    These pellets can easily be distinguished from those of drywood termites because they have rounded, convex surfaces.

Drywood termite fecal pellets "frass". 
Often these materials are pushed out of the
galleries through "kickout" holes.

Entrance into wood is usually made from a crack or crevice which the termites can enter before boring into the wood. This may be a crack in the wood itself or may be the joint between two pieces of wood or even the space underneath roofing or sheathing paper.

Because of their ability to live in wood without soil contact, drywood termites are frequently carried in infested furniture and other wooden objects into geographical areas where they are not normally found. For this reason, you  should be aware of their habits so as to recognize them when they appear.

Drywood termites may attack wood products of all kinds. Structural timbers and woodwork in buildings, as well as furniture and other wooden objects, may be damaged. Although serious damage is done to buildings and other wood products in some areas of the U.S., these termites are usually less injurious than subterranean termites simply because they are less widespread.  In fact while a typical subterranean termite colony can contain more than 500,000 termites, a typical drywood termite colony only contains about 10,000.

The dark western drywood termite, Incisitermes minor (Hagen), is the most destructive drywood termite in this country. It is found from California east to Arizona and Utah. In this area, it causes extensive damage to structures as well as to wooden derricks, piled lumber, furniture and telephone poles. It may infest any dry wooden portions of a structure from the foundation to the roof.

Small swarming flights occur during April through July, frequently after rains. Winged adults are dark brown and about 1/2-inch long. The white, soft-bodied nymphs remain in the galleries and are not seen unless the wood is broken open.

The light western drywood termite, Marginitermes hubbardi, is found from California to Arizona. It is also referred to as the southern drywood termite. This termite is very similar in habits to the western drywood termite but prefers drier conditions and higher temperatures.

Three species of drywood termites are most often found in the southeastern part of the U.S. The light southeastern drywood termite, Incisitermes snyderi  (Light), is found from South Carolina to Florida and west to Texas. It is the most injurious species of drywood termite in that area. A second drywood termite, Incisitermes schwartzi (Banks), is a common species in southern Florida occurring as far north as Pensacola. Thirdly, the dark southeastern drywood termite, Kalotermes approximatus (Snyder), occurs along the Gulf Coast west to New Orleans and on the Atlantic Coast north to southern Virginia. It attacks wood in structures, posts and utility poles.

Desert Subterranean Termites

If you are experiencing problems with a termite species that has been identified by your pest management professional as Desert Subs, it's highly probable that you are living in an area of the country that experiences dry or even arid conditions. In fact, Desert Subs are commonly distributed throughout the lower deserts of northwestern Mexico, southern California and southern Arizona. And if your pest management professional has recommended a treatment program that includes Termidor termiticide/ insecticide, one of the most tested termiticides in history, there are a few important facts you should understand about the behavior of Desert Subs compared to more common subterranean termites such as Formosan or Eastern Subterranean.

Some quick facts about Desert Subs
Able to survive in drier conditions than Formosan or Eastern Sub termites. Soldiers of Desert Subs are characterized by their slender and straight mandibles in contrast to the relatively thick, curved mandibles of Formosan or Eastern Subs. Their small size and ability to forage under dry conditions allows them to occupy a niche not exploited by other subterranean termite species. Preliminary research suggests that baiting for Desert Subs requires more time than for others. Given the small size of Desert Subs soldiers and workers, they are apt to penetrate smaller cracks in concrete and masonry that are too narrow for foragers of other subterranean termites to enter. Subtle differences in foraging behavior do exist. Foraging tubes are lighter in color, narrower, and more circular. Sometimes, Desert Subs will openly build very narrow, free-hanging tubes from ceilings, shelves and overhangs. Don't be surprised to see tubes as long as 6 to 12 inches in length. These tubes are often re-used by Desert Subs even when there is no feeding activity. Size of foraging tubes does not necessarily equate to "damage."

HOW TO IDENTIFY TERMITES

Termite Identification - What Species of Termite is it?
Before you decide on a treatment plan for termites, it is very important to determine the species you are dealing with.  In the southern part of the United States, subterranean termites are the most common.  Subterranean termites are the underground termite and travel in mud shelter tubes.  They make up about 90% of the termite infestations in the United States.  Subterranean termite species that are the most common are the Eastern subterranean termite, Arid Land subterranean termite and the western subterranean termite.  Formosan termites are also a species of subterranean termite that are common in areas of Louisiana, Texas and Florida.  If you live more than 500 miles from the gulf coast, it is likely that your termites are subterranean.

Drywood termites live in drywood and do not need moisture from the ground to Survive.  Drywood termites are most common in areas near the Gulf Coast and in Southern California.  Drywood termites require a different treatment than subterranean termites, so it is important if you live in these areas to determine what species you have.  You could have both subterranean termites and drywood termites at the same time, and they would require 2 different treatments to control them. 

Subterranean Termite Swarmer (note: black body / white wings)	Drywood Termite Swarmer (note: red body / black wings)

Ants or Termites? 
It is also possible that you are not dealing with termites at all.  Carpenter ants look very similar to swarming termites due to the fact that both reproductive stages have wings.  If you find signs of winged insects, don't panic and assume that they are automatically termites.  Carefully pick one up and look at under a magnifying glass.  Look for the most common sign - the color.  Subterranean termite swarmers are solid black, drywood swarmers are solid red, while carpenter ants are usually red and black or dark brown.  The other big difference is in the body.  Termites all have a long body with no small segments attached.  Ants always have a thin neck and a thin waist.  Check out the chart below to help determine the difference.  If you think you have carpenter ants, then don't go any further, because carpenter ants require a totally different treatment than termites. 

Ants or Termites ?
Compare Your Critters To This Chart

Ants species that are commonly confused with subterranean termite swarmers are carpenter ants and fire ants.  Both of these ant species have winged reproductives that swarm in the early spring and randomly during the year.  The important thing to remember however, is that subterranean termites only swarm in the spring in the US, and occasionally in the fall.  Subterranean termite swarmers are very poor fliers and only use their wings to swarm.  They will break them off soon after swarming to make crawling easier.  They will then search out a mate and pair off to start a new colony.  You may encounter piles of broken wings, especially on window sills, and near areas of sunlight such as doorways, etc.  Winged ants do not break off their wings and are very strong fliers.  Compare your critters to the chart above to determine what you have. 

Subterranean Termite Swarmers

If you think you have subterranean termites - then you need to be positively certain.   You may find workers and soldiers or swarmers.   Subterranean termite swarmers appear in the United States starting in February (south Florida) and swarm until early June for the northern areas of the United States.   In most instances of swarming, the individual termite colony only swarms 1 or 2 times.  It is not a constant swarming cycle and unless you are lucky enough to witness the swarm or find dead swarmers or wings, you may miss it.

You May Find Subterranean Termite Swarmers, Soldiers and Workers.
Normally, You Will Not Find Queens or Kings Because They Are Hidden
Deep Inside Their Colony.

In coastal areas of the US, drywood termites are common.  Drywood termite swarmers differ from subterranean termites in appearance primarily in color.   Drywood termite swarmers are red with blackish wings - and can be confused with Florida carpenter ants. 

If you do not see signs of swarming, then there are other signs that you can look for.  The most obvious sign of subterranean termite infestation is mud tunneling.  Subterranean termites build mud shelter tubes in which they travel.   These mud shelter tubes are connected with the termite colony and are constructed of dirt and an acid substance that the worker termites secrete.  The mud shelter tube helps to protect the worker termites from predators such as ants, and also provides them with humidity.  Most importantly, mud shelter tubes give the blind worker and soldier termites a highway in which to travel to and from their food sources. Mud shelter tubes are very hard packed, and usually as they get older, they get harder and larger.   Some mud shelter tubes are as small as a pen others can be several inches wide.

Subterranean Termite Mud Shelter Tubes

Mud shelter tubes are usually seen on the outer sides of foundation walls as seen in the photo above.  They can also be seen emerging from sheetrock in ceilings, and on sheetrock walls as shown in the pictures below.

 

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Pictures Of Subterranean Termite Damage

           

Signs of subterranean termite infestation that you may not see Include -

If you are certain that subterranean termites have infested your home, the time to treat is NOW.  There is no best time to treat for them.  Summer, winter, spring or fall, subterranean termites can be active all year round in a heated building.   

Subterranean termites will not just disappear or go away.  If they have infested your home or business, the only thing that will stop them is a proper treatment.  If you do nothing, the termites will continue to eat and cause damage..  At some point, structural damages could occur.  If you are battling formosan subterranean termites, (gulf coast areas) your entire home could be destroyed in as little as a year and a half.

Subterranean termites should be taken very seriously.  Fortunately, they are usually easy to control.  All you need is the right approach and the right materials.  

ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA:

Orange County is a county in Southern California, United States. Its county seat is Santa Ana. According to the 2000 Census, its population was 2,846,289, making it the second most populous county in the state of California, and the fifth most populous in the United States. The state of California estimates its population as of 2007 to be 3,098,121 people, dropping its rank to third, behind San Diego County. Thirty-four incorporated cities are located in Orange County; the newest is Aliso Viejo.

Unlike many other large centers of population in the United States, Orange County uses its county name as its source of identification whereas other places in the country are identified by the large city that is closest to them. This is because there is no defined center to Orange County like there is in other areas which have one distinct large city. Five Orange County cities have populations exceeding 170,000 while no cities in the county have populations surpassing 360,000. Seven of these cities are among the 200 largest cities in the United States.

Orange County is also famous as a tourist destination, as the county is home to such attractions as Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, as well as sandy beaches for swimming and surfing, yacht harbors for sailing and pleasure boating, and extensive area devoted to parks and open space for golf, tennis, hiking, kayaking, cycling, skateboarding, and other outdoor recreation. It is at the center of Southern California's Tech Coast, with Irvine being the primary business hub.

The average price of a home in Orange County is $541,000. Orange County is the home of a vast number of major industries and service organizations. As an integral part of the second largest market in America, this highly diversified region has become a Mecca for talented individuals in virtually every field imaginable. Indeed the colorful pageant of human history continues to unfold here; for perhaps in no other place on earth is there an environment more conducive to innovative thinking, creativity and growth than this exciting, sun bathed valley stretching between the mountains and the sea in Orange County.

Orange County was Created March 11 1889, from part of Los Angeles County, and, according to tradition, so named because of the flourishing orange culture. Orange, however, was and is a commonplace name in the United States, used originally in honor of the Prince of Orange, son-in-law of King George II of England.

Incorporated: March 11, 1889 Legislative Districts: * Congressional: 38th-40th, 42nd & 43 * California Senate: 31st-33rd, 35th & 37 * California Assembly: 58th, 64th, 67th, 69th, 72nd & 74 County Seat: Santa Ana County Information: Robert E. Thomas Hall of Administration 10 Civic Center Plaza, 3rd Floor, Santa Ana 92701 Telephone: (714)834-2345 Fax: (714)834-3098 County Government Website: http://www.oc.ca.gov

 

DISCOUNTS FOR: Seniors, Military, Law Enforcement, Fire Department

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