Termites

Termite Control Services Gold Coast

Termites are very small in size and have a soft exoskeleton and it requires a professional termite inspection company to deal with them. They are found in regions of mainland Australia. They work underground and live in tunnels of mud which is mixed with their excreta and saliva, the purpose of building tunnels is to explore and find food. Their food source is mainly cellulose which is found in trees, logs and plants. The timber used in construction is also another home for termites and therefore, timber walls and roof frames are vulnerable to termite attack. The other materials in a house which can be attacked by termites are timber decking and floorboards, timber fences, skirting boards, bathroom & kitchen cupboards, carpet strips, etc.

3 CATEGORIES OF TERMITES SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES

One of the most common yet the most destructive species, Subterranean infests timber on the property. These pests need a source of moisture to survive, thus, prefer building their nests near the soil. The pests often prefer secluded spaces or mud tubes that can contain up to 2 million members altogether. They lay about 10 eggs in a day that can grow up within 50 days. They have saw-toothed jaws that can easily bite off small fragments of wood 24 hours a day and seven days a week. These pests have the capacity of destructing collapsing the entire building structure.

These pests have three types or caste including reproductive, workers, and soldiers. One of the most common yet the most destructive species, Subterranean infests timber on the property. These pests need a source of moisture to survive, thus, prefer building their nests near the soil. The pests often prefer secluded spaces or mud tubes that can contain up to 2 million members altogether. They lay about 10 eggs in a day that can grow up within 50 days. They have saw-toothed jaws that can easily bite off small fragments of wood 24 hours a day and seven days a week. These pests have the capacity of destructing collapsing the entire building structure.

These pests have three types or caste including reproductives, workers, and soldiers.

1. The Reproductives

King – the king is the smallest termite in the colony

Queen – the largest, a queen is integral for the growth of a colony.

Alates – also known as swarmers, these pests have long and dark brown to almost black bodies with milky colored wings. They can grow up to ¼ to ½ long.

2. The Workers: Justifying their names, these pests work to move materials. They are approximately ¼ in. or less in length with cream coloured bodies. Their small jaws help them chew away the wood to build spaces.

3. The Soldiers: Soldiers have large mandibles that differentiate them from the other termites. They have a flat and wide body with a rectangular-shaped head. They are creamy-white with a darker and brownish head.

DRYWOOD TERMITES

These termites prefer to live in small colonies, nesting themselves completely inside the timber or piece of furniture. Infesting softwood and hardwood timber, these pests can feed across annual rings. They can obtain all the moisture from the wood, without needing any other source of water (no contact with the ground). These pests are usually pale brown with a yellowish-tan appearance. The wings of alates can be clear or smoky grey.

They are dependent on a high humid atmosphere to survive. They are further subdivided into three categories:

• The Workers: The workers in this category look more or less the same as the Subterranean Termites workers
• The Alates: the reproductive caste is also known as swarmers. They have two sets of wings that shed after swarming. The front wings have a pattern of three well-pigmented veins. They can grow up to 12 mm in length.
• The Soldiers: they feature large mandibles with teeth. They have a pronotum wider than the team. They are generally 3/8 in. in length.

DAMPWOOD TERMITES

These pests stay and infest timber that is moist and thus are often found at woods or furniture with water leakage problems. They can feed on wood for years before being detected and can destruct the entire structure effectively. These pests are minor and can be avoided by fixing leakage problems in your households. These termites are larger than the subterranean termite species. These species have a large heads with mandibles. They can be classified into three castes, as the other termites, swarmers, soldiers, and immature.

• The Swarmers: these termites have wings and can grow 2up to 25 mm (including the size of their wings)
• The Soldiers: these pests can grow up to 20 mm
• The Immature: Similar to soldiers, these pests are 20 mm in length. These are the workers in the colonies.

POPULAR TERMITE SPECIES IN AUSTRALIA

• Coptotermes acinaciformis– these soldier termites have rectangular pear-shaped and can grow up to 7 mm long. They produce a white sticky liquid when defending the nest from any attack.
• Coptotermes frenchi– The soldiers of this species are 4-5 mm long with a pear-shaped head. They build their nest in the ground or tree trunks. They infest the sound timbers in the building.
• Cryptotermes brevis– Drywood termite species, these pests are one of the most serious ones in the world. The soldier of these species has a wrinkled head and they can grow up to 4.2-6mm in length.
• Heterotermes ferox– one of the subterranean termites, these pests are 3.5 to 7.5 mm in length with a rectangular head and long mandibles.
• Natsutitermes fumigatus – their soldiers can grow up to 4 mm in length and have a pale orange and nasute head.
• Natsutitermes walker – the soldiers of this specie are 5-7 mm in length. They are the largest of the Nasutitermes species.
• Schedorhinotermes intermedius – these pests have two types of soldiers, the minor ones measure 3-5mm long with a narrow head. The major ones are 5-7.5mm long with a bulbous head.