Natural Solutions to Things That Bug You (13 page)

TERMITES

TERMITES

General Information:

    
    Termites change areas and homes by colonization flights from one colony to set up a new one. This usually takes place in the fall or early in the spring or summer and depends of the species of termite. Even if your home has been protected you may still be at risk of the colony setting up housekeeping. When the termite lands both the male and female break off their wings, run around in circles and then hides under a rock for protection and seal themselves in and mate for life.

Colonies have to grow very slow at first so that they can develop their workers. Colonies can have hundreds to thousands of termites with colonies reaching 500,000 individuals in some areas. The winged termites are the reproductive ones and after mating, the queen will lose her wings. Termites cannot digest wood with the support of microscopic, one-celled protozoa, which are responsible for breaking down the cellulose in the wood so that they can digest and utilize it. The termite develops the protozoa by consuming each other’s fecal material.

Termites must have moisture and have contact with the soil so if you find a nest and open it they will probably die off.

Formosan subterranean termite

    One of the worst varieties: causing considerable damage. Their nests are located in building walls, under roofs and in trees. They are more common in the Gulf States, Hawaii, areas of Georgia and southern California. Their colonies can number millions of termites and they have soldiers that can secrets a gluey type of defense fluid from their heads. They are strong enough to displace other types of termites if they enter an area. To identify their soldiers, look for the oval-shaped heads instead of the typical square head.

                                                                                                                                                            WORKER

The king & queen

After the female has flown, mated and has produced eggs she is called a "queen." A male that has flown, mated and is in the area of a queen is termed a "king." Only one male (king) produces mates within the colony. When mature, a primary queen has a great capacity to lay eggs and it has been reported that they can produce more than 2,000 eggs a day.

The distended abdomen with eggs increases the queen's body length to several times more than before mating and reduces her ability to move freely. Attendant workers provide assistance. The queen is also widely believed to be a primary source of
pheromones
useful in colony integration, which are thought to be spread through shared feeding.

The king grows only slightly larger after mating and continues to mate with the queen for life, which may be as long as 45 years. This is very different from ant colonies, in which a queen mates once with the male(s) and stores the gametes for life since the male ants die shortly after mating.

Worker termites

Worker termites are the labors are responsible for foraging, food storage, brood and nest maintenance and some defense duties in certain species. Workers are the main caste in the colony for the digestion of cellulose in food and are most likely to be found in wood. This is achieved in one of two ways. Entomologists that study termites found that termites can produce their own cellulose enzyme and can digest wood in the absence of their symbiotic microbes, however, there is now evidence suggesting that these gut microbes makes use of termite-produced cellulose enzymes.

The workers also feed the other members of the colony with substances derived from the digestion of plant material. This process of feeding of one colony member by another is one of the keys to the success of the group. It frees up the parents from feeding except but the first generation of offspring, allowing for the colony to grow much larger and ensuring that the necessary gut relationships are transferred from one generation to another.

Soldier termites

The soldier caste has anatomical and specific behavioral specializations, providing strength and armor, which are primarily used against ant attacks. The number of soldiers within a colony varies among species. A number of soldiers have jaws so large that they cannot feed themselves and are fed by workers. Some soldiers have the ability to exude noxious liquids through either a horn-like nozzle or holes in their forehead.

Many species are easily identified using the characteristics of the soldiers' heads. Termite soldiers are usually blind, but in some families, particularly among the damp wood termites, soldiers may have at least partly functional eyes.

The soldier caste is primarily a defense against predatory ants. A tunnel-blocking soldier can rebuff attacks from many ants. Usually more soldiers stand by behind the initial soldier in case the first one falls another soldier will take the place.

Termite nests & mounds

The workers are responsible for building and maintain nests which house the colony. These elaborate structures are made using a combination of soil, mud, chewed wood/cellulose, saliva, and feces. The nest has numerous functions such as providing a protected living space and water conservation. It has nursery chambers deep within the nest where eggs and   larvae are tended. Some species will actually maintain fungal gardens that are fed on collected plant matter, providing a nutritious substance, which the colony can feed on. Nests have a maze of tunnel-like rooms that provide air conditioning and control the CO
/O
balance, as well as allow the termites to move through the nest.

Nests are usually built underground, within fallen trees or even atop living trees. Some species build nests above ground, which can develop in giant mounds. Mounds can be as high as 30 feet.

Termites as food source

There are many cultures where termites, especially the winged ones are used for food. The winged ones are nutritious, having a good store of fat and protein and are palatable in most species with a nutty flavor when cooked.

They are easy to gather at the beginning of the rainy season in, especially in areas of Africa when they swarm, since they are attracted to lights and can be gathered up when they land on nets that are placed around a lamp.

The wings can be removed by a technique similar to winnowing then they are gently roasted on a hot plate or lightly fried until just crisp. Since their bodies are naturally high in oil, no oil is needed to fry them.

Formosan subterranean termite

One of the worst varieties: causing considerable damage. Their nests are located in building walls, under roofs and in trees.

They are more common in the Gulf States, Hawaii, areas of Georgia and southern California. Their colonies can number millions of termites and they have soldiers that can secrets a gluey type of defense fluid from their heads. They are strong enough to displace other types of termites if they enter an area. To identify their soldiers, look for the oval-shaped heads instead of the typical square head.

NATURAL METHODS OF ELIMINATION

DOWN WITH THE QUEEN

    
    Termites; are really not a bad insect. They are the best wood recycler around and will turn a dead log into food for many other insects. Unfortunately, they are not fussy where they find wood and your home is a handy source of food. The queen is the key to the termite “swarm.”