What do Termites Look Like?

Do I have Ants swarming or Termites? Why do they swarm? (Click on Picture for PDF Sheet)

Ant Swarmer

  • Elbowed antennae
  • Two pair of wings the rear pair smaller than front pair
  • Pinched waist with three well defined body segments
  • Long legs

Termite Swarmer

  • Straight antennae
  • Two pair of wings same shape and size
  • Broad waist with what look like to be a head and a long body
  • Short legs

Why do termites swarm?

Termite colonies in the midwest are subterranean not dry wood. They produce swarmer caste of the termite over the winter to early spring. They are basically new kings and queens that work there way up the termite tunnels and are pushed out and cared for by the workers and soldiers. Typically they will emerge on a good warm day or days in spring or early summer. Swarmers emerge by the hundreds in hopes that if they were outside and make it to the soil and connect as a pair to start a new colony. Their chances are slim from the start because typically birds and other insects would feed on them. Termites always seem to survive though.

 
     

Worker Termite

This is the termite that does the damage. The worker termite forages for food and feeds on cellulose fiber.

 

Soldier Termite

This as it's name implies is the defender of the colony. The soldier cannot feed on cellulose fiber the worker must digest it first and then get it through sharing of food called tropholaxis (regurgitation).

King and Queen Termite

The King and Queen were originally swarmers that were produced in this spring of the year. They paired up and started a new colony. There are also supplementary reproductive's that help produce eggs with the queen.
 

How do termites get into your structure?

This structure shows the following points of entry:

1. Exterior foundation entering through crack in brick and up into exterior wall

2. Crack In footer and through center of cinder block foundation into joist

3. Following drain pipe into joist and following pipe up into bathroom wall.

Quick Note: We commonly will find activity at a front stoop or rear porch area also. (They can come in anywhere there is a large enough gap in th foundation)

 

 

 

 

 

Here are two videos of the top termite treatment options available at this time.

Termite Baiting Colony Elimination System

 

Sentricon Colony Elimination System Logo

 

Non-Repellent Chemical Termite Termite Treatment

Termidor Logo