Termites

Termites play an important part in nature; they recycle wood and grass and return the nutrients back to the earth. Unfortunately, the Termite cannot distinguish the difference between your home and a dead tree. Colony sizes vary between species and what they consume and their colony structure differs between different species. They can be divided into 3 groups based on their nesting behavior, where their nest refers to reproductive sites. A single site nester, a multi-site nester and a central site nester, the single site nesters cannot burrow through soil therefore living their entire lives inside a piece of wood. The Queens are small, as are their colony sizes (hundreds to thousands of Termites). The ‘Dry Wood’ Termite such as Cryptotermes SPP and Kalotermes SPP are such examples of single site nesters. These are not considered to be a pest. Multi-site nesters are capable of burrowing through soil (i.e. They are sub-terrain) and use this ability to find new food sources, they may build new nests in new food sources especially if food source is large. Queens are larger and colony sizes are also larger (tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands). Mastotermes DARWINIENSI, Schedorhinotermes SPP are examples of multi-site nesters. Unfortunately, these two species are among the most destructive species and are considered to be a pest. Mastotermes DARWINIENSI generally is found to be above the Tropic of Capricorn but reports and live specimens have been found reportedly in the Gold Coast area, but no nests have been found and the likely reason is from the transportation of railway sleepers down from the Northern Territory. These are the largest Australian termites averaging 12.75mm in length and capable of destroying houses within months. Schedorhinotermes SPP are on average between 5.5-7.07mm in length. This species of termites have two soldier castes – a minor and a major. The soldier in this species will actually round up the worker Termite and heard them around (like cattle dogs do to sheep). This species is most prolific on the coastal south-east Queensland region and are by nature very timid. When disturbed they will scamper and close of workings leaving some castes behind majority being soldiers cut off from their colony they seem to be kamikaze. This species is difficult to treat and is the major factor in why pest technicians do not want you to investigate the Termites found in your house. Simply banging on walls and prodding with screw drivers and such can cause this species to scamper. They are most destructive, when disturbed they will not give up and re-entry into the dwelling is most common. Single Site Nester also burrow to find new food sources (so are also sub-terrain), but always transport the food to their original nest, i.e. central nest. The central nest can be large and complex and often have the capacity to maintain constant temperature and humidity levels. Queens can be enormous; colony sizes are very large also (hundreds of thousands – two million). The cathedral mounds of Masuteitermes Triodiae and a magnetic mound of Amitermes Meridionalis are spectacular examples of central nesters, but more familiar pest species that are central nesters are Masutitermes Exitiosus, and Coptotermes SP

Coptotermes SPP are highly common pests, very aggressive and destructive. Unlike Schedorhinotermes SPP they are aggressive when disturbed and large number of soldiers aggressively defends any break in their workings. Some species of Coptotermes SPP will secrete latex from between their mandibles. These species are noisy when disturbed and will shake and bang their heads violently in an attempt to make the numbers and the Termites seem larger and will not scamper. Unfortunately, some of these species have been known to set up sub-nests within a house. To understand what species of Termite that you are dealing with goes along way to successfully treating them and removing them from your house or home. Sub-terrain termites can enter a dwelling at any time through the smallest gap. Termites need two things to survive – moisture and a food source. The Termite has an exo-skeleton and has many predators although few predators find Termites as rarely they expose themselves. There are many castings of a Termite family it was believed that the worker castings was blind and sterile. But new studies have revealed in some species that they moult into other castings. It was also believed that the soldier and worker were unable to reach reproductive stages. New studies have proved this to be incorrect.

With continuing studies on different species of Termites being held worldwide our Inspectors at Bwize always keep up to date with the latest findings.