Termites

Eastern Subterranean Termites

There can be up to 13 termite colonies per acre in the southern U.S.

Identification

• Soldiers have rectangular shaped heads
• Swarmers occur during the spring, usually after a rain shower, and are dark in color, ranging up to 1/2 inch in size
• Workers are 3/8 inch in size or less and comprise the majority of the population

Environment

• Beneficial insects when they consume fallen timber and other cellulose material
• Recycle wood and other plant material and help aerate the soil
• Become a pest when they try to recycle the structural timbers of a home

Threats

• Responsible for more than 2 billion dollars of damage to homes in the United States every year
• Cause more damage in an average year than fires, floods, and tornadoes
• A termite colony may contain several hundred thousand individuals and
• There may be up to 12 termite colonies in an acre in some parts of the country

Treatment

• Bait systems may be placed around the perimeter of a home, such as Sentricon
• Liquid termiticides may be applied