Subterranean Termites

Termite Biology

There are many species of termites, but the ones most common in and around the St. Louis, Missouri area are Subterranean Termites.

In nature, Termites play an important part in the ecosystem in that they feed on dead trees and plants, thus returning the nutrients to the soil so new growth can occur. They only become pests when they feed on man-made wooden structures.

Termites are unique among insects in their ability to digest cellulose, which is the component of wood and plants that gives structural rigidity to cells. Termites contain bacteria in their digestive systems that break down the complex carbohydrate cellulose into simpler carbohydrates that the termites can use for energy.

Subterranean termites live in the soil, usually (but not always) very close to their source of food. Generally speaking, they must stay in close reach of the soil at all times, lest they die from dehydration.

Occasionally, however, subterranean termites may establish colonies in wooden structures themselves. This only happens when a damaged piece of wood is continually moist enough to satisfy the termites' water requirements.

More commonly, subterranean termites build shelter tubing to travel between the soil and wood that is nearby, but is not actually touching the soil. The shelter tubing provides a dark, moist environment that protects the termites from sunlight, predators, or air currents that can lead to dehydration.

Termites may also build shelter tubes through the soil to avoid certain highly repellant termiticides. The presence of shelter tubing in a building is a sure sign that the structure has (or once had) a problem with termites.

Termite Castes

Termites are social insects with a highly developed caste system and a strict division of labor within the colony. There are four distinct castes of termites, of which three are seldom seen by homeowners because they live underground.

Workers are the termites that do the damage. These cream-colored, grub-like insects average between 1/8" and 3/16" in length. The workers perform all of the housekeeping duties for the colony. They excavate galleries, forage for food, care for young, and feed other colony members. They also are the caste that directly devours wood.
Soldier termites are present in mature colonies. As their name implies, they are responsible for defending the colony from attack by predators. They are slightly larger than workers, and their mandibles are adapted for fighting. Because of this, soldier termites cannot feed themselves. They must be fed by workers.
Reproductive Termites are the largest termites in a colony. Every colony has at least one reproductive called the queen. The queen produces eggs and regulates the entire life of the colony through chemical messengers known as pheromones. Established colonies also have "supplementary reproductives" who produce eggs, but are subordinate to the queen.
Winged Reproductive Termites (properly called alates) are the caste most commonly seen by homeowners. Their mission is to swarm from the colony, find a suitable piece of ground, and establish a new colony. They vast majority will fail at their mission, and dead alates are often the first visible evidence a homeowner sees of a termite problem.
Next Page Termite Treatment