Termites

The most common termite in the area is the dampwood termite. Workers are about 3/8” long and whitish or yellowish in color; some (“soldiers”) have an enlarged reddish head. These nest in wet, rotting wood only. Therefore, their presence is mostly just an indication of a rot problem. If the source of water to the area is eliminated, and all of the rotted wood replaced, the termite “problem” has been solved by non-chemical means -- the elimination of their only habitat. Insecticides could also be used to lessen the number of termites until the rotted wood can be replaced.

As with moisture ants, the termite reproductive caste emerges periodically in a mating flight. The females are frequently seen in the late summer – they have a reddish body about 1/4“ long, and 4 wings much longer than the body. Winged termites are easy to distinguish from winged ants – all winged ants have two wings, while all winged termites have four wings. If large numbers of winged dampwood termites are found inside a structure, there is probably a rot problem that needs to be addressed; standard insecticides will easily kill the reproductives, and should be applied wherever they are emerging into the room.

Subterranean termites are much more of a problem, since they will inhabit sound wood and can do significant damage without detection. A wide variety of treatments are used to treat subterranean termites, including flooding areas under slabs with insecticide by drilling the slabs. It is highly recommended that a competent professional exterminator be employed if subterranean termite activity is suspected.

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