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Termites Pest Blog
Termites are destructive pest, inflicting significant structural damages to wood material, fixtures and furnitures. The reproductive termites are often identify as flying ants and the mistake can be costly.
Drywood Termite
Learn More About Drywood Termite
Some of the drywood termite species are call "white ants" because of their colour and look. Termites are social insects that lives in colonies consisting of reproductive, workers, soldiers of both sexes. They have tiny soft bodies, strong biting mouth parts, short cerci and antennae with 9-30 segments. Termites are amongst the most common insects on earth with global population measuring in the trillions.
Termites are mainly tropical or subtropical insects that feeds on wood, fresh leaves, leaf litters or soil. They are group according to their feeding or habitat preferences. Drywood termites can impact significant damage to buildings structure and they do not require contact with the ground. Termites are blind, they manoeuvres with their straight antennae and follow paths through pheromones.
To maintain and guard their nests, termites have evolved a reproductive strategy that provides both a workforce and soldiers. The workers are sterile and make up make up most of the colony, carrying out nest building and. repair duties, foraging, taking care of the eggs and nymphs and caring for the queen. In lower number of drywood termites colony, there may not be a distinct caste system, nymphs will undertake more duties.
The "primary reproductive" possess two pairs of flying termite wings, and will be founders of a new termite colony. After the "nuptial" flight period, Alate discard their wings and mate, they become king and queens. It can fetch up to 2 years to establish a strong and systematic colony. The queen termite can grow up to 90mm and in certain type of termite species they can produce an egg every three seconds.
Prevention Is Better Than Cure
Drywood Termite Signs
Termites build nests in fallen decaying wood or above below ground, the mud tubes will shelter the colony. Termite mounds are construct from soil excavate in the course of digging underground tunnels. The soil and sand collect on the surface, will be mix with saliva and faeces. The interior is complex with intricate network of tunnels, mud tubes and galleries for movement.
To maintain airflow and an even temperature, vents lead off from tunnels. While all termites are extremely dangerous, drywood termites poses the biggest threat to residential and commercial property in Singapore. Unlike other insects, drywood termites builds a colony and reside in wood fixture or structural wooden materials. Exceptionally difficult to detect them, and the harm they can inflict on a structure can be devastating.
Termite inspection from reliable pest control company is a recommended proactive measure for property owners in Singapore. Commonly quote that taking preventive actions, are far better than dealing with the consequences. This is especially true with termites and the damage they can cause looking for food source in wooden structures.
Faint Nails Tapping Noises
From busy feasting to head banging against the hollow wood material to alarm the colony of danger. Termite infestations can be detect by listening for faint clicking sounds in the wall. It takes a lot of a training for the ears to identify the sound, worker termites actually make quite a raucous when alarm.
Flying Termites with Wings
Another easy identifier is the presence of their shed wings from drywood swarmers. The colony requires swarmers to reproduce and grow a new colony. Flying termites or alates leaves evidence of their veiny wings is a sign of a drywood termite infestation.
The Sighting of “White Ants”
Not everyone realise it, but the termites species actually do look similar to ants. The biggest difference is that termites have light cream-coloured bodies straight antennae, and they have thicker mid sections.
Knocking Wood Sounds Hollow
While the target is to eradicate termites before they get too far into the infestation. The "red flag" to indicate that you have a serious termite infestation is the sound of knocking it creates on the hollowed wood. As drywood termites eat from the inside then out leaving a thin layer of wood to move around.
Frass: Termite Droppings
One of the most clear signs of infestation is the presence of frass (termite faeces). Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not use their droppings to build their mud tubes or mud trails. Instead, they work their way through and around your property and dump their frass by kicking them out of the tunnels. The faecal pallet is similar in shape and looks like a powdery substance.
Mud Trail or Mud Tube
If you see a mud trail leading to wooden material, the chance of termite infestation is high. They often build a pathway to their food source and these mud trail are well hidden. Do not poke to destroy the trail because they will figure out another route or the soldiers may bite when feel they feel threaten.
Best Termite Control Solution For Drywood Termite
Guide to Drywood Termite Control Singapore
Protect your home from swarming termites (alate) as they fly into buildings structures and will infest wood directly. They would typically infest on exposed wood first such as kitchen cabinets, windows or door frames, trim, and roof attics. After mating, the male and female termite will drop their wings. Stay vigilant and keep windows and doors closed to prevent flying termites.
These wood termites are actively searching for a place to build a new colony. Early detection for signs of termites by Innovative Pest Management services is the best solution. Our specialists will inspect, detect and protect your property from any potential termite damages.
How do you rid of drywood termites that are infesting second-hand furniture, picture frames, or wooden materials? Ideally, check thoroughly for warning signs prior purchase, be sure to look for small holes on the surface of the wood. Alternatively, if it produces an empty echo when knock on. Drywood termite droppings are about 1mm long and colour according to the wood being eat.
Drywood termite faecal pellets exits the mud tubes and commonly in a pile almost like a saw dust. The most successful methods of control is by fumigation, local treatment or replacement of the infest wood. Fumigation is highly recommended if infestations are widespread and/ or difficult to access. Unfortunately, for cases that are more widely spread, the termite bait system will permanently eradicate the infestation.
