Learn More About Subterranean Termite
Subterranean Termite
Subterranean Termite is the most common type of found in Singapore identified as Asian Subterranean Termite, Eastern Subterranean Termite and Formosan Subterranean Termite. Unfortunately, they are described to be more vigorous and aggressive.
They eat at a more rapid rate and comes in a larger colony. A mature colony consist of about 350,000 workers may/can eat about 31 grams per day resorting to damages to wooden structures and properties.
Formosan Subterranean Termite
The Formosan Termite is called “The Super-Termite” of the famous press. This is primarily because of the large size of the colony and, hence the Termite’s ability to consume a large amount of wood in a relatively short period of time and to produce a large number of evening flight of swarmer.
There are a lot of ways to prevent them, ultimately Professional Termite Control Services is your best bet to get rid of Subterranean Termite Infestation in Singapore permanently.
Lifecycle, Diet & All
Subterranean Termite Characteristic
The Subterranean Termite Habitat & Dietary
Habitat
They are similar to Drywood Termites and Dampwood Termites when it comes to the types of wood for food source. Subterranean Termites are the type of termite that are known to attack building timber, especially in tropical and subtropical areas.
Mud Trail
They readily build tunnels or working tubes are called Subterranean Termite Mud Trails or Termite Mud Tubes to transverse impenetrable materials or adverse conditions to reach wood. Their tubes are small, more solidly built out of soil and wood combined with termite saliva , lighter in colour, (yellowish white to tan), and more circular in the cross section.
Dietary
What do Subterranean Termites eat was a frequently asked question for majority? Subterranean termite main diet is cellulose, thus why they are in search for wood, carton boxes, paper. These species of termites burrow deep into wooden piles, beams, rafters, walls and flooring. Their honeycomb like damages would go unnoticed until critical collapse.
Termite Frass
Subterranean Termite Frass are a signs of termite infestation that Pest Control Termite Inspections lookout for. Drywood Termite droppings are coarse. The termite pellets exit from the kick-out holes or drop tubes that they have an opening through the Mud Tube which to push their frass. The Subterranean Termite frass are left behind looking like piles of sawdust.
Learn About Subterranean Termite Caste
Subterranean Termite Colony
The Subterranean Termite Colony
There are three main group in a Subterranean Termite caste and all the three group differ in colour. Workers are usually of cream or milky colour. Soldiers are of the same body colour but with a brown head. The Reproductive, The King and Queen, are usually darker in colour than the rest of the colony.
The Worker Termites main job is to feed the colony. The Soldiers, King and Queen is unable to feed themselves. The Queen is so large that they are unable to move much. They rely solely on the workers who feed for survival.
The Soldier Termites are tasked at protecting the termite nest from any pest intrusion which will mainly be ants or any other termites from another colony. They are equipped with large mandible to ensure that they are able to defend and fight off anything that might harm the colony. The soldiers also are able to discharge white toxic fluid while defending its colony.
Queen Termite matures and produces as many as 20,000 eggs per day. There is usually only one pair of primary reproductive which are the king and the queen. Their job are mainly to grow the size of the colony. Reproductive also known as swarmers develops wings and leaves the colony from the swarm tubes after about 3-5 years to start one on their own.
The Subterranean Termite Caste Anatomy
ALATES ( OR SWARMERS)
Its length 14-15mm long including wings and body pale yellow to brownish yellow. Fontal gland pore present, distinct, opening towards front of wings. Their front wing with 2 dark heavily hardened veins in front portion.
SOLDIER
Rounded head with sides narrowed or tapered fontal gland pores that has a very short tubes towards front to the head . Large mandible last teeth which is orange to brownish in colour, Pronotum flat, creamy white body narrower than head.
WORKER
It’s length about 3 mm long and Worker Termites are blind, wingless, soft-bodied, creamy white to light greyish with a round head. Workers forages food and water, tasked to construct and repair sheltering tubes, grooms and feed other termites. They also care for the eggs and young, and participate in the colony defence.
QUEEN
Length 15 mm, dark brown head and long bodied with a whitish abdomen that is very enlarged. Queen has a long lifespan and can live 25 to 50 years, typically the oldest termite in the colony. When the Termite Queen dies when pheromone is no longer produced. A new queen will be replaced in the colony.
KING
It’s length 2-4mm darker brown and oval shaped head. King termite is a powerful species found in the depths of the Termite nest guarding and mate with the Queen to starting and maintaining the termite colony population.
Frequent Asked Questions About Subterranean Termite
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