TERMITE CONTROL AND EXTERMINATION
TERMITE BIOLOGY
There are many species of termites, but the ones most common in and around the St. Louis, Missouri area are Eastern Subterranean Termites. These termites live in the soil, usually (but not always) very close to their food source, and feed on wood. Like all termites, subterranean termites have bacteria in their guts that give them the unique ability to derive energy from the cellulose in wood.
Subterranean termites can't tolerate prolonged exposure to air. They must remain in frequent contact with the soil or another moisture source to avoid dehydrating. When even the smallest gap exists between the soil and a termite colony's food source, the termites build shelter tubes made of mud between the two, and travel back and forth inside the tubes. Occasionally, however, subterranean termites may establish colonies in the wood itself. This only happens when the wood has the right moisture level to satisfy the termites' water requirements.
In nature, termites play an important part in the ecosystem by feeding on dead trees and plants, returning the nutrients to the soil to support new growth. The problem is that termites don't know (nor care about) the difference between a wooden building and any other dead tree. Left untreated, termites can do serious and costly damage to a home; and over time, they can literally destroy it.
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