More Types of Termites

Together with industrialization, human civilization has brought upon the need to face pest infestation in order for us to protect all our investments and one of those pests is the termite. The existence of termites could be traced way back to the prehistoric years and they are even much older than the species of cockroaches and ants. According to studies and scientific investigations, there are about 2750 species of termites living in the whole world. However, most of them have been pushed to co-exist with humans in order for them to continue living since their natural habitats have been compromised with rapid modernization. Like any of these insects, termites are also divided into different types depending on their habitat and modes of survival. The climate distinctions play a great role in the partitioning of termite kinds. Being able to identify the kind of termites that you are dealing with is very important for you to strategize the appropriate means of pest extermination. Thus, we would be tackling more types of termites including those that are not very common.

Most Common Types

I. Drywood Termites. This is the most common type of termites. They are also considered the original species since they are the ones basically feeding on wood. They devour on timbers, walls, floors or wooden frames of the roof. Moreover, they are very hard to detect that even professionals find it difficult to trace their entry points and find their colonies. These termites live above the soil and build their nests on woods or build their colonies within the house. There could be multiple colonies in just one building because they are relatively small and hidden between the partitions of walls or floors. They devour on different kinds of furniture as long as they are made of wood and they consume them from the inside. Therefore, you would not be able to detect the damage unless it has already been tremendous that signs are by now apparent. Since these termites devour from the inner part of the wood, they weaken the structure until it finally gives in and gets ruined beyond repair. They eat 24 hours a day and for this reason, the damage progresses so fast. Most of the time, repairing is no longer an option. The structure needs to be completely rebuilt. Drywood termites, however, are subdivided into smaller groups and two of the largest groups are the following;


a. Powderpost Termites. They are commonly called the furniture enemies and they inhabit in the southeast and middle parts of North America. These termite leave behind fine powdered wood that looks like sawdust.

b. Western Drywood Termites. Justifying their name, they inhabit the western parts of the United States. Their colonies are of the smallest size compared to the colonies of any other types.

Rare Types

I. Termopsidae - Rottenwood Termites. These termites compose the largest classification of termites and they greatly inhabit the western parts of the United States. They enter structural buildings through cracks; thus, being regarded as sneaky insects. They could even get through cracks that are as small as 1/16" wide and when they do, they could easily establish a settlement within the building. These particular termites are responsible with the damages in clothes, carpets, curtains and any fibrous materials, not limiting themselves with just the diet of woods. They create the most damages on basements and floors since they usually build their colonies underground just below the frost line and above the water table.

II. Hodotermitidae - Harvester termites. These termites are the most widely inhabited in North America. They are otherwise called the soil feeding termites and their diet includes any form of plant fibers such as leaves, fruits, bush roots and cotton. They build their colonies in any parts of the building but they could easily be traced upon sighting some wings lying about because they often shed their wings close to the colonies. Moreover, a certain colony could hold up to 5 million termites with the average of 30 to 40 thousand range and they could live up to 30 years. In addition to that, these termites move with swarm intelligence. They swarm in the spring months and they release a particular substance from their body to maintain communication among all individuals of the colony. This is to prevent invasion and to protect each other from any possible danger.

III. Macrotermes bellicosus - African Termites. These termites are the largest in the world. They can grow as long as 5 inches upon maturity. These termites are the only termite species that could live and survive in very dry regions. They live in desert areas of the southwest of the United States and into Mexico particularly Southern California, New Mexico, Western Texas and Arizona. They could make burrows in soil and feed in very dry conditions but they also build mud huts in structural buildings usually along the shelves or wood ceilings. Of all termites, the desert subterranean termites are the unique ones having a different biological structure. Their mandibles are slender in contrast to the stout wide ones of the other termite types. In addition to that, these termites are very small and could get into considerably small cracks that no other termites could enter.

IV. Odontotermes latericus -South African Termites. This type of termites has the biggest number and considered as the most destructive group. They could destroy a house in just a matter of few months and the damages are truly beyond repair the home owner would need to reconstruct and get rid of all the infested materials. In sighting one Formosan subterranean termite, it is necessary to call on the help of pest control specialists because their existence, no matter how few there are, is very serious. They could devour the wood foundations of the house quicker than any other types of termites could. They are even called the "super termites" by experts because the progress of the damage they create is very fast and before you know it, it becomes unstoppable that fumigating is no longer efficient enough. Furthermore, they build their colonies within walls, ceilings, floors or in the basement and one sign you could rely on is the visible bulge on your wall. A colony could be hundreds of feet long and could house thousand of termites since the queen of this particular type reproduces so fast and the reproduction process is incessant. Hundreds of eggs are being laid every day. To prevent the infestation, you should avoid any source of unnecessary moisture in the house because these termites are in dire need of moisture in order to survive. Make sure that all water drains and does not stagnate in any parts of your house. Frequently check all areas to see if there are any possible entries for these termites or any signs of their colonies. When you get to notice any signs of infestation, immediately call the experts to exterminate them before the damage gets worse.

Another amazing post by me,
Michael Rozatoru :)