Termite Identification

Termites bear a certain similarity to the ant. Because of this, it can be quite challenging and confusing to tell them apart. As a homeowner owning a house near a wooded area, or a farmer growing crops, it is imperative that you can tell which pest is a termite, and which is a flying ant. If and when you see a pest that you are having a difficult time identifying, use the following steps to do a proper termite vs. flying ant identification test.

1. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is to inspect the body parts of the insect, which can be done without the use of a microscope or field glass in most cases. Termites have two visible body parts: a head and a body. All ants have three distinct body parts: head, abdomen and thorax. In other words, the ant’s body is separated into two body parts.

2. Ants are usually found indoors, outdoors, on plants, in our lawns and in flower or vegetable garden. If you find winged insects in or around your home and want to make sure that they are not termites, pull back their wings and look closely at the body parts. If the bug you inspect looks like an ant, it is usually an ant. If it does not have three visible body parts but does have a head and a long body, it is probably a termite.

3. Another identifying characteristic that separates winged ants from winged termites is the antennae. All ants have antennae that have a fairly severe bend or “elbow” but termite antennae to not have this sharp bend. A termite’s antennae are beaded; an ant’s antennae have segments that sometimes end in small club.The different sections of an ant’s antennae are often important to those involved in inspection and treatment of homes and lawns for ant infestations. The number of sections, size of club, and even absence of a club are all important factors in the identification of the invading ant or termite pest.

4. The termite swarmer has four wings, as does the swarming ant. The difference lies in the length of the wings. When the wings of either flying insect are folded (in a resting position or when found dead) and appear to be two wings of the same or equal length. Closer inspection reveals the true evidence. When you gently spread out the wings you will find that there are now four wings, instead of two.

5. An ant swarmer and a termite swarmer both have 2 pairs or 2 sets of wings. The wings of a swarming termite are all the same length. The wings of a swarming ant are different. The front wings (those that are visible when the wings are not spread) are longer than the rear wings. When at rest, the front wings are folded over so that the rear set of wings are not visible.

6. One thing you need to remember when doing a termite vs. flying ant identification test is that the purpose of a winged termite is not to eat wood but to propagate the species. They cannot hurt you, but what they can do is lay eggs inside your home that will grow into a colony of its own and cause complete devastation to the structure itself. Sometimes that destruction is so severe that it requires rebuilding, and, in rare cases, razing of the structure itself.

If you think that your house has termites, it would definitely help to have termite pictures for termite identification.  Here are some interesting termite pictures:

Photo by Ganeshbrhills

Photo by Panamapictures

Photo by Rictor Norton & David Allen

Termite identification becomes easier once you have a picture. You can start looking for burrow holes in damp or moist woods that can hold possible termite tunnels.

There are several kinds of termites which you can identify with. There are those that are white in color. These are the worker termites and since these are the foragers, they are the most damaging kind of all termites. Once you see one, its necessary to eradicate them as quickly as possible before they can do any more damage to your structure.

Another type of termite is the swarmer. Swarmer termites are winged and swarm during certain times of the year. These termites are reproductives and are responsible for laying eggs that will carry the colony into the future. Getting rid of these winged reproductives means getting of termites in the future.

The queen termite is also important as she is responsible for producing hundreds of eggs each year. The queen has a lighter-colored body compared to the king’s.

A better way to identify termites is to get different termite pictures.

If you own a property or structure, it would be impossible for you not to ask the question, “What does a termite look like?” Naturally, this is because as an owner, you only want to prevent your property from being damaged by termites.

What does a termite look like? The question can only be answered by taking a good look at the different kinds of termite in the colony.

White and Small

The worker termites are small, white, and closely resemble white ants. In the termite hierarchy, it is the worker termite that foragers for food for the entire colony. Eradicating the foragers means eradicating the colony’s food supplier. What better way to get rid of the entire colony than to start with the worker termites?

Winged Swarmers

The reproductives have wings and are known to swarm during certain times of the year. One of the best tell tale signs of termite colonies is the swarmer. As soon as these are observed around your house, it is time to check for termite mounds where possible colonies have thrived.

The Royalty

The king and queen termite usually confine themselves in the termite mound. Queen termites are long, large, have large, elongated bodies that are light in color. The king termite may be smaller than the queen but his body is darker in color.

Photo by Sheilaellen

In arid and tropical savannas, termite colonies construct large and elaborate mounds.  Usually, these mounds have very distinctive forms with tall wedge-shapes.  It is usually shaped for a reason: thermoregulation.

Hot air usually rises in these termite mounds above ground.  This helps drive circulation currents inside the network or chambers inside the mounds, keeping it cool enough for the termites to thrive in.

In some cases, termite mounds can reach as high as six feet.  However, most termite colonies build their mounds somewhere around two feet.

How does it work?  Termite mounds are able to regulate temperature because of the ducts and holes within their structure.  It may be difficult for millions of inhabitants in a single mound, located in single nest burind a meter beneath the ground but termites were able to address the problem of ventilation with these termite mounds.

A termite inspector does more than inspect your home for termites and other home-wrecking pests.  Like any other job, termite inspection requires a certain amount of training, too  Furthermore, termite inspectors have to be certified with the American Association of Pest Control Services.

Here are some of the duties and responsibilities of a termite inspector:

1.  Every home being sold by a realtor must undergo termite inspection.  If you’re planning to buy a new home, inquire from your real estate agent if the home you are about to buy has been inspected by a professional termite inspector.

2.  Termite inspector and termite inspection companies should provide their clients with price quotes so the clients can have the option of going for your services or looking for cheaper options.

3. A termite inspector should provide the homeowner or the client with a complete assessment of the problem areas and he or she must be able to walk the client through his or her report in case the client needs to clarify something.

Like most insects, termites are also reproduced and bred through the laying and hatching of eggs.  The queen termite can be impregnated with eggs from several colony members to keep the society thriving.  Since termites aren’t exactly what we call monogamous, it is therefore easier for them to multiply.

A mature queen termite can lay several thousands of each every single day.  Some species of termites, the queen can even grow several ovaries allowing them to reproduce even more eggs!  Like any pregnant creature, queen termites also have enlarged abdomen.  While they are immobilized in their condition, the hundred of worker termites around it work to move and feed her.

Once they are hatch, the eggs will eventually turn into nymphs and further on, into different members of the termite colony.  Worker termites make up the largest part of the community.

Just like many other insects, the termite is reproduced through the laying and hatching of eggs.  Unlike the typical male/female dynamic that we, as humans, know, the queen of the termite colony can become impregnated with eggs from multiple colony members just so that the society is kept going.  In other words, termites aren’t monogamous.  These worker termites are wingless, are blind and are the ones mostly found in infested wood.  Although the soldier termites are blind and wingless as well, the group has the capability to defend the colony when under attack – by humans and termite deterrents.

Winged termites are the reproductives and supplementary reproductives of the colony.  During swarming season, these group swarm to a new location, shed their old wings and pair up with a new termite colony.  Supplementary reproductives stand the chance of being replacement when a termite king or queen dies.

Fortunately for termites and unfortunately for the homeowners,  termites can reproduce into hundreds and even a thousand in a matter of days.  Thus termite colonies and their respective damages are almost always difficult to battle with.

Looking for more information on termites and how they can be controlled?  Click here to check out Termite Identification, Treatment and Control. 

If you are interested in becoming a termite inspector, a good way to break into the field is to find a place as a termite apprentice.  There are many termite apprentice programs that are offered by accredited schools and even universities that only take a couple of days to take.  These termite apprentice programs are in the form of intense classes that will teach you all sorts of information including termite biology, practical field identification of wood-destroying organisms, their damage, and the safe use of tools, chemicals, and other equipment used to rid the home of these devastating insects.

Because these courses are short, they can be quite intense and require a lot of work.  But when you want to become a termite inspector, the termite apprentice program is a great way to get into the field and know what you’re doing right off the bat.  These courses are often not very expensive, but when you consider the experience that you are able to pick up, you will soon realize that they are well worth the money.

Once you have taken a termite apprentice course, you will probably want to hook up with a licensed professional termite inspector and ask if you can be their termite apprentice so you can gain experience in the field.  Many termite inspectors are happy to take on a termite apprentice – especially if you are willing to work with them in the field to help alleviate their work load.  Often, your termite apprentice course will be able to find someone who is willing to work with you and teach you the business.  Sometimes these will be paid positions and sometimes they won’t.  What you have to do is weigh the experience you are getting with the necessity of a paycheck.  Some people just can’t sign on to be a termite apprentice because they need the money, so find someone you trust and talk honestly with them about your expectations as well as theirs.

Often, when you are trying to get into a new field of work, the best thing you can do for yourself is get some on-the-job training.  Plus, for a termite inspector, it is a welcome advantage having some help in the field as well.  So if you are interested in the lucrative field of termite inspection, you may want to seriously check out becoming a termite apprentice.  Not only with the experience be invaluable, but you will learn so much more than you could ever hope to find from a textbook.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Termite Identification Treatment & Control

Knowing termite appearance and morphology is essential in identification of these pests and eventual eradication of the colony.  Most people think of termites as little white ants, but termite appearance and morphology is so much more than thinking they are little white ants.  In fact, the common termite only superficially resembles an ant.  The reason people think of the termite as white ants is because of their similar size and social habits. Like ants, termites live in colonies with very specific structure.  Each termite has a specific job to do in order to make the colony work.  Worker termites bring food back to the mound that is home to colony and they do the most damage to structures and crops.  Soldier termites defend the colony from predators.  They have very strong mandibles and can cause damage to anyone trying to destroy the colony.  Reproductive termites are winged and lay eggs so that the colony is always growing.  The king and queen “rule” the colony and are responsible for making sure that the colony continues and that all members are doing their jobs. As far as termite appearance and morphology is concerned, the termite is softer, whiter, shorter-legged, fatter and generally much slower moving.  In all actuality, they are not even closely related to ants.  Ants, along with bees and wasps, belong to the Order Hymenoptera. Termites are much closer to cockroaches and mantids, and all three are sometimes clumped into a super order called Dictyoptera. Some scientists have concluded that termites should be classified as a family Termitidae within the cockroaches’ order Blattodea. Termites have biting mouthparts, and their soft bodies are small, rarely over one centimeter in length.  Typically, they will occupy dark nests and tunnels only venturing out when the winged alates emerge to leave the parent colony, when constructing shelter or when harvesting their food. The bodies of flying termites are darker while the termites that remain in the nest or mound are generally white in color with only their heads having color.  The wings of termites are long and slender in pairs that are similarly sized and shaped.  The name of the Order they belong to is derived from their having equal wings.  Isopteron (iso=equal, pteron=wing).  The wings are quickly shed after a flight with a simple body flick when the swarming termites find a new nest site, pair up, and dig in.  The remnant of a termite wing is a distinct triangle, but they are small, so don’t try looking for one too hard! Knowing about termite appearance and morphology can help you identify termites around structures and in crops.  Once you are able to determine you have a termite problem, you can take steps to eradicate them before they cause too much damage.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Termite Identification Treatment & Control

Even the mention of a termite can send terror into the heart of a homeowner.  Many people know that a termite can cause huge damage to a home and when you take one termite and add it to another termite and then another and another and another, you might find yourself with a home that is not only unsound but extremely difficult to sell and live in.  Many people know about the termite, but not many people know specifics about this pesky insect. A termite – also known as a white ant – is a member of a group of social insects much like regular ants.  They most often feed on dead plant material including wood, leaf litter, and soil.  The termite can cause huge damage to structures such as houses, building, crops, and forests. The termite superficially resembles an ant and is called a white ant only because of their social behaviors and similar size.  However, the regular termite is softer, whiter, shorter-legged, fatter and generally much slower moving.  In actuality, a termite is much more similar to the common cockroach.  Some experts feel like the termite belongs in its own classification of insects instead of being clumped together with ants in the Hymemoptra class or a super order which contains all of them called the Dictyoptera class. The common termite has a biting mouthpart and their soft bodies are rarely longer than one centimeter in length.  As a colony, they typically inhabit dark nests and tunnels, only venturing out when the winged alates emerge to leave their parent colony, when constructing shelter or, in the case of grass- and leaf-litter-feeders, when harvesting their food.  The alate is basically a baby termite growing into a full blown termite and getting ready to venture out into the world to find their own food source to decimate! As with ants, the termite resides in a colony along with other termites.  That is why they are referred to as social insects.  Termite colonies can number anywhere from hundreds to even millions of inhabitants.  They work together to survive and use self-organized swarm intelligence to obtain food sources and sustain the colony.  Just as with ants, there is a certain hierarchy within the colony.  It is usually “ruled” by a queen and there are workers, soldiers, nymphs, and reproductive termites responsible for re-populating the colony. While a termite is a dreaded insect for most people, they are easily recognized and easily controlled when you know that you have a problem.  If you take the time to know about the common termite, see the signs that you may have a termite problem, and then take steps to alleviate the problem, you will have much luck in repairing the damage that these invading insects can do.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Termite Identification Treatment & Control

If you live in the great state of Florida and find that you have a termite problem, you are very lucky since you have easy access to one of the premier termite eradication companies in the state – St. Pete Termite. This amazing company is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and is a member of the Fumigation Advisory Council of Florida. St. Pete Termite has also received numerous awards including the prestigious Commitment to Excellence Certification in tent fumigation by Dow Agrosciences. St. Pete termite has been in business since 1946 and has committed themselves to providing termite fumigation services to the people of Florida on a large scale. They have state of the art technology for termite and general pest control and keep up-to-date with any new technologies that might come about from research and testing in the field of pest control. Their employees are highly trained and they offer up guarantees that assure you will be getting the best service and rid you of your pest problems.

When St. Pete Termite was founded, their owners wanted to fill a gap in the pest control industry. What they wanted to do was give Floridians a choice in who they wanted to take care of their termite problem – a company who could do the job effectively versus a company who could come into your home and do the best they could without any type of promise or guarantee that the job would be done correctly and efficiently. One of the great things about St. Pete Termite is that they specialize in tent fumigation. What that means is that if you have a termite infestation, they will come in and spray your home with the most effective chemicals on the market. They will then erect a tent around the area that has been treated and allow those chemicals to go to work and get rid of your termite problem.

This company is one of the premiere termite and pest control companies in the greater Tampa Bay area. They have successfully fumigated all sorts of structure like high-rise towers, commercial buildings, boats, condominiums, and even mobile homes. St. Pete Termite is a company that takes pride in their work and does every single thing that they can do to eradicate a termite problem and save your structure. Something to keep in mind about St. Pete Termite is that they are fully licensed and sanctioned in the state of Florida. That means that the Florida government deems them able to provide the services that they advertise and that they do so with an amazing sense of accuracy. If you are in Florida and want to contact St. Pete Termite, go to their website at www.stpetepest.com.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Termite Identification Treatment & Control