Table of Contents
Termite Facts
What are some fun facts about termites?
Termites are known as “silent destroyers” because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and even wallpaper undetected. There are about 2,000 known termite species in the world. Each year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage.
Do termites eat 24 hours a day?
Termite Workers Never Stop Eating
A worker can consume wood 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. This is because termites don’t sleep. Fortunately, workers aren’t always eating. They spend time tunneling, building shelter tubes, grooming each other, and feeding other termites.
What attracts termites to a house?
In addition to wood inside the home, termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in building exteriors. Different combinations of these factors attract different species. Additionally, geographic location plays a role in how likely homeowners are to deal with infestations.
What is termites biggest enemy?
Ants are the Enemy of Termites
Ants are the biggest natural predators of termites. If you have an established colony of ants in your yard, it is highly unlikely that you will have an established colony of termites.
How long can termites live?
LONG LIVE THE QUEEN
Queens of eastern subterranean termites, the most common species of termites found in the United States, can live up to a staggering 30 years, but a 15- to 17-year life span is more common.
Do termites eat?
Termites are detritivores that eat wood, decaying plants, and fungi. Termites eat dead or dying plants, wood, roots, and fungi. They are considered detritivores, creatures that consume debris that is considered detritus. These insects specifically target foods for their cellulose content.
Can termites bite you?
Essentially, termites definitely bite wood and do attack other insects, but they do not bite people. Although homeowners experiencing an infestation should not be concerned about receiving bites from termites, professional extermination methods should be sought and implemented to protect the structure of your home.
Do termites hate sunlight?
Sunlight. Termites cannot survive in the sunlight therefore they hide in places in your home that are shady. However, to kill them, taking the affected object or area out into bright sunlight will kill them. Let natural sunlight come in your home throughout the day to help prevent them.
Is it true that termites never sleep?
Termites never sleep. Ever. Termites might slow down, or even stop, for a time if the temperature drops low enough. This is a state called diapause, which some insects go into if their body temperature gets down to a certain point.
Is it true termites don’t sleep?
Termites Don’t Sleep
They run through tunnels in the ground, work their way up through tunnels in the wood of your home, and take nibble after nibble without ever taking a break. They can do this all day, every day, all year.
What kills termites instantly?
If you spot a termite and want to dispatch it immediately, this is the technique for you. Shoot Termidor Foam directly into cracks, voids, and crevices that make for great termite hiding places. The odorless foam will expand, then evaporate, leaving behind a residue that poisons termites as soon as they touch it.
Why do termites suddenly appear?
Termites swarm after their original colony has reached a certain capacity level and is ready to expand. For most colonies, this happens once a year. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, called alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.
How do termites appear out of nowhere?
Winged swarming termites emerge from cracks in your walls and foundation in large numbers. They can also come out though holes in the soil in your yard. They emerge through swarm tubes made by worker termites. Unfortunately for them, not every termite survives to form a new colony.
What naturally eats termites?
There are a wide variety of natural predators when it comes to termites.
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Some of the most well-known avian predators include:
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Some of the most well-known avian predators include:
- Chickens.
- Doves.
- Red-Headed Woodpecker.
- Sparrows.
- Spotted Eagle Owls.
- Starlings.
- Swifts.
- Weavers.
What bug eats termites?
Insects, Spiders and Nematodes
Other insects that eat termites include beetles, flies and wasps. Spiders catch and eat flying termites in their webs; assassin bugs break into termite mounds, stab them and inject them with toxin. Nematodes, unsegmented roundworms, invade termite bodies and kill them.
What is the enemy of termite?
Why are ants the enemies of termites? They require the same surroundings and have a similar caste system in their colony. This makes each side a natural competitor for resources. This usually results in an all-out war between the two.
How fast can termites destroy a house?
With about 2 million termites working in the right condition they can cause significant damage within the first few months. A home can be totally destroyed in a year or two.
How fast can termites eat a house?
To make room for the colony, the average termite colony can eat a foot of a 24 in six months.
Do termites drink water?
Water. Termites also drink water and they can transport water to their feeding areas by transporting the water through their mouthparts to other termites. A single termite can drink half of its body weight in a single trip to a water source.
Do termites smell?
Termites are also said to give off an odor that smells like mildew or mold; it is often mistaken as water damage. If you notice any unfamiliar smells, see if you can find where it is coming from; you may find the source being an infestation.
Do termites eat poop?
Poop. As disgusting as it sounds, termites eat fecal matter. When termites eat poop, they’re preparing their digestive systems for the wood they eat. The termite queen will feed the young her pheromone-laden poop to dictate which role they will grow into within the colony.
What do termites not like?
Termites hate sunlight. In fact, they can actually die if they are exposed to too much sunlight and heat. If you have a piece of furniture you suspect to be infested with termites, you can drag it out into the yard to bake in the Arizona sun for a bit.
Do termites crawl on you?
Termites don’t crawl all over your walls and eat your home in front of you. They come up from the ground and devour the wood of your home from the inside out. They do this silently, with little or no visible signs.
Can termites live in clothes?
Yes, they can, although the chances of that are quite low. Clothes usually have cellulose in their composition which is appealing to termites although it’s just as inviting to other insects as well.
Do termites crawl on the floor?
With the exception of conehead termites, most termite species cannot crawl on the open ground like ants and other pests. Instead, they build mud tubes to travel between their colony and food sources.
What scent do termites hate?
Mint is another natural pesticide that could repel termites. Mints release a strong scent, and termites are overwhelmed by mints and will retreat from them.
What cold kills termites?
Termite season is usually in cold temperatures in the fall or winter because termites, like all insects, are cold-blooded: below temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit, a termite can die within just a few minutes.
What is queen termite?
A queen termite has a long lifespan and is typically the oldest termite in the colony. Termite queens can live 25 to 50 years, with peak egg production for up to 10 years. When the queen dies and the pheromone she uses to block reproductives’ development is no longer produced, a new queen will develop in the colony.
Can termites see in the dark?
Worker termites can distinguish light from dark but cannot see shapes or color in their surroundings. As the primary providers for the colony, they detect food through their antennae and olfactory senses instead.
What time of day are termites most active?
Subterranean termites swarm during the day, particularly after rainfall. They’re most active in the spring. Invasive Formosan termites swarm at night and are generally at their peak in the late spring and summer. Drywood termites are also active at night, especially around lights.
What lights are termites attracted to?
Attraction to Light
Like most nocturnal insects, the pests will be drawn to light sources around the home, such as porch lamps, motion lights, and light reflected from inside. It is common to see swarms of alates around utility lights, as well.
How long have termites existed?
While the earliest human beings have been around for about four and a half million years, and dinosaurs existed no more than 230 million years ago, termites are believed to have appeared on Earth more than 250 million years ago.
What are termites good for?
Termites are actually important decomposers. They break down tough plant fibers, recycling dead and decaying trees into new soil. These hungry insects are vital to the health of our forests. As they tunnel, termites also aerate and improve the soil.
Why do termites fly around lights?
ARE FLYING TERMITES ATTRACTED TO LIGHT? Like most flying insects and pests, termites are very attracted to all sources of light. They are particularly drawn to straight lighting and you may see termites in the millions swarming around it.
How long does it take to get rid of termites?
Generally speaking, most infestations take about fourteen days to terminate. A heavy infestation can take up to eight weeks. These timelines are of course for professional exterminators.
What is the fastest way to get rid of termites naturally?
Borax powder, or sodium borate, can kill termites naturally. You just sprinkle the powder on the termites and the affected area, or you make a solution of the powder and water to spray or paint on affected areas. You can also paint the solution on surfaces as a termite repellant.
Do termites come back after treatment?
Will termites come back after treatment? Termites may return after treatments. Luckily, companies like Orkin and Terminix promise to re-treat at no extra cost if you have a termite plan with them.
How do you get rid of termites with wings?
Do termites leave on their own?
Can termites go away on their own after they have invaded a home or business? A. Yes, they can go away on their own.
Why flying termites mean serious trouble?
Why does flying termites mean serious trouble? Flying termites are a warning sign of potential damage to property. Termites cause structural damage to properties and thereby making the wooden structure bend and blister. Termite colonies usually mature in about three to six years and produce alates.
Do termites leave wings behind?
Piles of wings left behind after swarms, often resembling fish scales. Mud tubes climbing the foundation of your home. Flying termite swarms anywhere on your property.
What are signs you have termites?
Signs you may have termites
- Swarmers (flying termites ) Swarmers are usually one of the first signs of a termite infestation. …
- Discarded wings. …
- Hollow or blistering wood. …
- Frass. …
- Mud tubes. …
- Tight fitting doors and hard-to-open windows. …
- Head banging or chewing noises.
How long do termites live after they swarm?
A termite swarm will last about 30-40 minutes and the swarming termites will fly toward a light source. You will typically see them collecting around windows and sliding glass doors. If these termites cannot find soil, they will die in a few hours from dehydration.
Why do termites appear on the wall?
If there is a continuous dampness source like leaking shower and walls/floor remain damp and the wood rarely dries, the termite nest can exist and spread within masonary walls.
Do spiders catch termites?
Spiders for Insect Control
When it comes to some insects, at least. Spiders eat 10 times their body weight every day. That’s equal to you eating about 15 pounds of meat daily. Spiders eat termites, too.
Do cats eat termites?
Also, termites don’t tend to wander out where it’s light and there’s a lot of activity going on. Therefore, most pets won’t come into contact with termites anyway. And if they do? Most cats and dogs will eat them, with no harm done to your furry friends.
How many termites are there in the world?
Termites are known as “silent destroyers” because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and even wallpaper undetected. There are about 2,000 known termite species in the world. Each year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage.
Do bees eat termites?
Contrary to popular belief, carpenter bees do not eat the wood like termites. Rather, they rely on pollen and nectar from nearby plants as a food source for themselves and their young.
Do frogs eat termites?
Frogs hunt live prey, eating snails, spiders, worms, slugs, termites, dragonflies, crickets and larvae. Depending on the size of the frog, the type and size of insect will vary.
Can ants eat termites?
Termites face many predators in nature, and one of the most notable is the ant. Ants eat termites for a variety of reasons. Termites make great meals for ants because the they provide plenty of protein. Some of the more important motives have to do with reducing competition for resources.
Are termites scared of ants?
Control Methods. Termites and ants are natural enemies. Ant and termite colonies often turn hostile upon encountering one another. Ants have been known to raid termite colonies and consume termites as a source of food.
Can chickens eat termites?
Termites provide a tasty and nutritious food for the chicken and keeps them healthy.
