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There are several visible differences
between the termite and the flying ant. The swarming termite
has a broad waist. Its front and back wings are the same
size, sporting many translucent veins and its antennae are
straight. By contrast, the swarming ant has a narrow waist,
its front wings are larger than its back ones and there
are not as many veins. Its antennae have a bent elbow shape. |
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This silent invader
lives underground and multiplies by the thousands, always
in search for wood to feed their colonies. Left undetected,
they will tirelessly attack a home, causing dangerous and
costly structural damage. Subterranean termites enjoy warmth
and like to eat cellulose, a material found in all plant
cells. This nourishment enables them to tunnel their way
through solid wood such as your house timber. The first
attack is likely to be on the underground structure of your
house. As a rule, they travel above ground for food (wood)
and underground for moisture. A termite mud tunnel found
between the soil and wood construction in your home is a
sign of infestation. Termites feed on any structure containing
wood, they also attack slab homes and can enter through
cracks as small as 1/64th of an inch. |
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The Drywood Termite not only eats the wood
structure, but lives inside the wood structure. These insects
will construct a virtual city within the wood, complete
with galleries or tunnels to get around it. They can enter
the home by flying in or being carried on previously infested
wood, such as furniture or construction materials. Each
year they swarm as a way of starting new colonies. Attic
and eave areas are prime targets for new colonies, along
with windowsills, baseboards, beams and doorframes. Any
exterior wood that can be bored into is a good place to
look for a colony. They can even attack furniture, paper,
cloth, wallboard or any other cellulose material. |
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