Termite Facts

Every year, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage in the United States. Termites are known as “silent destroyers” because of their ability to chew through wood, flooring and even wallpaper undetected for years—damage that isn’t covered by most homeowners’ insurance policies.

Not always underground

Colonies of termites are difficult to detect because most species build their colonies underground and move through subterranean tunnels. However, there are some species such as Conehead termites, found in Florida, that forage over top of the ground, similar to ants. This allows these termites to spread easily and quickly if left unchecked.

Insatiable Hunger

It is not recommended to follow the typical diet of a termite colony. They consume wood, flooring, and even wallpaper non-stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

To better put this in perspective, it is estimated that an established subterranean termite colony could consume the amount of wood equivalent to one cup of sawdust in as little as two hours. Just imagine the damage that could be done over time if left undetected.

Mob Mentality

Although termite colonies can be made up of millions of individuals, termites do not work alone. Termites are social insects, and the activity of a colony is dictated by swarm intelligence. This decentralized form of interaction means the colony works as a single unit, with the needs of the group always taking precedence over an individual.

With this system, colonies can take advantage of resources one termite couldn’t by itself. It helps termite colonies be very efficient at establishing themselves in a house they have infested.

Colony Cliques

Termites have specialized jobs within the colony. These different groups have specific features that help them perform their job so the colony can grow. A typical termite colony consists of workers, soldiers, nymphs and reproductive individuals.

• Workers make up most of the colony. They are responsible for foraging as well as maintaining the nest and the colony’s eggs. Worker termites are most likely to be found in infested wood.
• Other individuals serve as soldiers who protect the rest of the colony. These soldiers have enlarged jaws that can block tunnels in case of an attack by ants. Interestingly, many soldiers have jaws so large that they cannot feed themselves.
• Nymphs are young termites and, in some species, take on the duties of worker termites.

One way in which termites differ from other social insects is that a colony has a primary queen and king who mate for life. However, a colony will also have a class of winged reproductive individuals that can leave to start other colonies.