Drywood Termites

Appearance:

 Drywood termites are yellow to pale brown in color. The bodies of primary reproductives, also called swarmers or alates, vary by species from coal black to pale yellow-brown, with grayish wings that extend past their bodies. Soldiers are pale to dark yellow and have large, visible jaws or mandibles.

 Behavior:

 Drywood termites are social insects that live in highly organized colonies. The colonies are composed of reproductives, workers, and soldiers. Small swarming flights, marked by the presence of swarmers, occur during April through July, frequently after rains. These reproductive termites can be winged or wingless. Colonies are small, can be widely dispersed and take years to mature.  Unlike subterranean termites, they do not require any contact with soil in order to thrive; they get the moisture they need to live from humid air or by digesting cellulose from wood. For this reason, drywood termites are most common along humid coastal areas.  Indoor infestation is often detected by the presence of shedded wings from swarmers. The presence of small fecal pellets, called frass, can be found outside of infested wood. The termites expel them through tiny openings in the infested wood made by the termites for this purpose. Because of their ability to live in wood without soil contact, drywood termites may attack wood products of all kinds and may infest any dry wood portions of a house from the foundation to the roof. 

Subterranean Termites

Appearance:

 Formosan subterranean termite workers look similar to those of native subterranean species. Soldiers are different in that they orange=brown-oval shaped heads with black mandibles. Swarmers are yellowish-brown with 2 pairs of wings of equal length. They are about 1/2 to 3/5 inch long from head to wingtip. The wings are covered with small hairs. 

Behavior:

 The Formosan subterranean termite has been transported worldwide from its native Southern China to Formosa, Taiwan- where it gets its name - and Japan. Within the last 100 years it has become established in South Africa, Hawaii and the continental United States. Sometimes referred to as the “Super Termite”, Formosan subterranean termites produce very large colonies, with the territory of a single colony sometimes reaching 300 feet. They can infest a wide variety of structures, including boats and high-rise condominiums. Termite swarms tend to occur from April through July on warm, humid evenings A single Formosan subterranean termite individual does not consume more wood than a single native subterranean termite; however, because of its large population size, a Formosan termite colony can cause more structural damage in a shorter time.

 Although they start small, a single Formosan termite colony may produce over 70,000 alates. The nest starts small, with only one batch of eggs, and may take from 3-5 years before the colony reaches substantial numbers. However, they can swell to huge capacities, with colony containing several million termites.

Formosan Termites

Appearance:

 Formosan subterranean termite workers look similar to those of native subterranean species. Soldiers are different in that they orange=brown-oval shaped heads with black mandibles. Swarmers are yellowish-brown with 2 pairs of wings of equal length. They are about 1/2 to 3/5 inch long from head to wingtip. The wings are covered with small hairs. 

Behavior:

 The Formosan subterranean termite has been transported worldwide from its native Southern China to Formosa, Taiwan- where it gets its name - and Japan. Within the last 100 years it has become established in South Africa, Hawaii and the continental United States.

 Sometimes referred to as the “Super Termite”, Formosan subterranean termites produce very large colonies, with the territory of a single colony sometimes reaching 300 feet. They can infest a wide variety of structures, including boats and high-rise condominiums.

 Termite swarms tend to occur from April through July on warm, humid evenings A single Formosan subterranean termite individual does not consume more wood than a single native subterranean termite; however, because of its large population size, a Formosan termite colony can cause more structural damage in a shorter time.

 Although they start small, a single Formosan termite colony may produce over 70,000 alates. The nest starts small, with only one batch of eggs, and may take from 3-5 years before the colony reaches substantial numbers. However, they can swell to huge capacities, with colony containing several million termites.