Termites are fascinating creatures with some rather unique behaviors. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand termite behavior and the dangers that they can pose to a home. In this blog post, we will discuss termite behavior in detail and provide some tips on how to prevent them from causing damage to your property.
Taking A Deeper Look At Termite Behavior
In order to successfully design and implement effective termite control, it is important to understand their behavior. The termite caste system is fascinating, and each termite has a specific role to play within the colony. Let’s take a deeper look at termite behavior and their habits.
What do Termites Eat?
Termites are known for their wood-eating habits, but they will actually eat just about anything that contains cellulose. This includes paper, cardboard, drywall, insulation, and even swimming pool liners. termites will also feed on dead plants and trees. In fact, termites play an important role in the decomposition process.
Termites are able to digest cellulose due to the presence of protozoa in their gut. These microscopic organisms break down the cellulose into glucose, which the termites can then use for energy.
There are two types of termites: those that eat just wood are referred to as lower termites, and those that feed on other organic materials like feces, grass, leaves, and roots are known as higher termites.
Flagellates (protists) and bacteria live together in the lower termite’s gut, whereas higher termites only have bacteria. Flagellates and bacteria help the termite digest cellulose and provide nutrition to it. Some termites are “fungus farmers,” which means that fungus grows on their excrement, making it easier for them to digest wood.
Where do Termites Live?
The next thing we want to cover about termite behavior is where they live! Termites live in every continent except Antarctica. There are more than 4000 species of termites, and they can be found in a variety of habitats.
subterranean termites live in underground colonies that can span several acres and contain millions of individuals. These termites build intricate tunnel systems to access food sources and protect themselves from the elements.
- Drywood termites live in small colonies within the wood they are eating.
- Termites that live in arid regions build mounds that can be several feet tall. These mounds help to regulate the temperature and humidity around the termite colony.
- Termites that live in rainforests build their nests in trees.
Knowing where termites live is important for effective pest control. If you think you may have termites on your property, it is important to contact a professional exterminator as soon as possible.
How do Termites Divide Labor?
Another factor to take into account when trying to understand termite behavior is that termites have a very organized social structure, and each termite has a specific role to play within the colony.
The termite caste system is divided into three main groups: soldiers, workers, and reproductives.
The soldiers are responsible for protecting the colony from predators and intruders. They have large mandibles that they use to bite and defend the colony.
The workers make up the majority of the termite population and their main responsibility is to gather food and build the termite mound.
The reproductives are responsible for creating new termites. The reproductives will leave the safety of the colony to mate with other termites from different colonies. After mating, the female termite will return to her colony and lay eggs.
The termite caste system is fascinating, and each termite has a specific role to play within the colony.
How Do Termites Cause damage?
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics about termite behavior, let’s talk about the damage they can cause. Termites are capable of causing a great deal of damage to your home if they are not controlled. Termites eat wood from the inside out, so you may not see the damage they are doing until it is too late.
These pests can also cause structural damage to your home by weakening the support beams and walls.
Termite behavior is fascinating, and there is still much we don’t know about these creatures. However, understanding termite behavior is important for effective pest control. If you think you may have termites on your property, it is important to contact a professional pest control specialist immediately.
At Sigma We Understand Termite Behavior
Termite control is important for the safety of your home. Contacting a professional pest control company like Sigma Pest Control can help you get rid of termites and prevent them from coming back. Our team of experts understands termite behavior and can help you find the best solution for your problem. Give us a call today to learn more!