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Termites are social insects of the order Blattodea that evolved from cockroaches. Although termites are frequently referred to as white ants, they are not ants or closely related to ants. Like ants and some bees and wasps, termite colonies consist of various castes of sterile workers and soldiers, fertile males referred to as kings, and one or more fertile females called queens. Termite queens have the longest known life expectancy of any insect, with some queens reportedly living up to thirty to fifty years. Their colonies vary in size from a few hundred termites to enormous societies consisting of several million insects. Three thousand classified species of termites have colonized every continent except for Antarctica and primarily feed on dead plant matter and cellulose, typically in the form of wood and leaves. The recycling of wood and plant matter by termites plays an essential ecological role. On the other hand, termites may become pests when they invade Long Island homes and cause structural damage. Termites cause more damage to dwellings than all other natural disasters combined.
Termite bodies are divided into three regions: the head, thorax, and abdomen.
Termites are equipped with a pair of straight, bead-like antennae.
Termites possess chewing mouthparts.
Termites have a thorax that is divided into three sections, with each section supporting a pair of legs.
Termite kings and queens bear two pairs of wings located on the last two segments of their thorax. Termite workers and soldiers don't have wings.
Termites have a ten-segmented abdomen.
Termite workers are entirely blind as they do not have a pair of eyes.
Termite bodies are of similar width from end to end, while ants have a constricted area between their thorax and abdomen called a petiole.
Termites have straight, bead-like antennae, while ants have elbowed antennae.
Termites and ants both have four wings; however, the hindwings of ants are much smaller than their forewings. Termite wings are equal in length and shape.
Termite wings are milky-white or gray and longer than their body, while ant wings are transparent or brown.
Termite wings are easily removed or shed, while ant wings are firmly attached.
The termite's life cycle begins with an egg but is unlike that of a bee or ant in that it goes through a developmental process known as incomplete metamorphosis, which includes three distinct stages: the egg, nymph, and adult stage. Nymphs look like small adults and go through a series of molts as they grow. Nymphs initially molt into workers, and some workers further molt, becoming soldiers or alates; workers become alates only by molting into alate nymphs. Supplementary reproductives are produced during this process and only mature into primary reproductives upon the death of a king or queen termite or when the primary termite alates are separated from the colony. Termite alates, also known as termite swarmers, only leave the colony when a mating flight occurs. Winged male and female termites pair up and then search for a suitable place to start a colony. The termite's wings break off upon landing, and they are now called dealates. The dealates will mate, and the new queen will lay eggs in the nesting site.
Termite workers make up approximately ninety to ninety-eight percent of the colony's population. The termite workers are responsible for foraging for food and brood and nest maintenance.
Termite soldiers defend the colony. Soldiers have large heads with highly specialized, powerful jaws.
Termite reproductives include fertile females and males, known as kings and queens. A king termite will mate with a queen who is responsible for the colony's egg production.
Eastern subterranean termites are the termites found on Long Island and are the most commonly found termites in North America. In the United States, these termites are the most economically significant wood-destroying insects and are regarded as pests. A mature eastern subterranean termite colony can range from twenty thousand workers to as many as five million workers, and the primary queen of the colony lays five thousand to ten thousand eggs per year to add to this total.
Routinely inspect the foundation of your home for signs of mud tubules. Monitor all exterior areas, including windows, and doorframes, for any noticeable changes.
Keep the soil around the foundation of your Long Island home dry through proper grading and drainage. Maintaining gutters and downspouts is essential to keeping the ground dry.
Repair openings that offer termites access to your home, including cracks in the foundation, as well as where utilities enter.
Repair leaks immediately.
Keep vents free of debris.
Do not plant trees and shrubs too close to your home.
Do not store firewood next to your home.
Many times there will be no visible signs that termites infest a home. A termite infestation may go undetected for years, concealed behind walls, insulation, floor coverings, and other obstructions in a Nassau County, Long Island home. Termite activity and damage can even progress undetected in exposed wood because the outer surface is typically left intact. Most homeowners are unaware they have termites until they see a swarm in the spring or come across damage during construction. If you suspect that you have termites, contact the Long Island termite inspection and control experts at Long Island Pest Control for a termite inspection. When doing a Long Island termite inspection, our exterminators will look for termite-damaged wood, which is hollowed out along the grain and contains pieces of dried mud or soil. Controlling termites is a multi-step process. Getting rid of a termite colony at a Long Island residence or business can be a complex process. Although many products are available to Long Island homeowners that claim to get rid of termites, most do not live up to consumers' expectations. Without proper training, equipment, and restricted use pesticides, eradicating a colony of subterranean termites from your Long Island home or place of business is a venture that will surely fail. Therefore, you should contact the Long Island termite inspection and control professionals at Long Island Pest Control. Our Long Island termite exterminators have an extensive knowledge of termite control techniques and many years of experience eliminating termite colonies.
