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A queen termite can produce 20,000 eggs a day. Professional intervention ensures thorough elimination of the colony and minimises the risk of recurring infestations
Termite
Learn More About
The Termite
In Singapore, termites are among the most common and potentially damaging pests for residential and commercial properties. Over 50 termite species identified locally, essential to understand their behaviour, characteristics and risks pose to wooden structures. These social insects are mistaken for other pests. Such as ants or flying insects, but their threat to property is unique and significant.
Primarily driven by their natural goal to establish large colonies containing thousands to millions. They focus on finding food sources, mainly cellulose-rich materials. Like wood, paper and organic debris and can silently cause extensive damage over time if not detected early. Many homeowners are unaware of the signs and risks associated with termite infestation.
Ignorance often leads to delayed treatment, resulting in costly repairs. Fortunately, with the right knowledge and proactive measures, it is possible to prevent and control these pests effectively. To protect your property in Singapore, it is vital to eliminate conditions conducive to termite activity. Keep timber and wooden structures elevated from the soil, reduce moisture around your property and fix leaks promptly.
Regular inspection by our professionals helps detect early signs of infestation, such as mud tubes, frass or damage wood. When dealing with termite problems, innovative professional pest control services offer the most effective and long-lasting solutions. We deploy advance techniques and environmentally safe treatment tailor to the specific species of termites infesting your property. Working with our experienced experts ensures your property remains safe, secure and termite-free for years to come.
URGENT RESPONSE
Lifecycle, Diet & All
Termite Characteristic
Termites are small, eusocial insects belonging to the order Blattodea, closely related to cockroaches. Physically, they exhibit an earthy pale colour ranging from white to light brown and soft body with distinctive features. One of their hallmark traits is their straight antennae, which distinguish them from similar insects like ants, which have elbowed antennae. They are highly social creatures organised into complex colonies that can contain thousands to millions of individuals.
They go through complete metamorphosis, developing through stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Process begins with eggs, tiny, white and oval laid by the alates reproductive members of the colony. A thriving termite colony revolves around its caste system, which is essential to its survival and efficiency. The colony is primarily compose of three castes: worker termites, soldiers and reproductive members.
The Termiteย Lifecycle
The lifecycle of termites involves several stages, from egg to mature colony member. Which evolves over a few months to several years depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Egg Stage
The reproductive queen can live for many years, lays hundreds to thousands of termite eggs in a chamber within the colony. These eggs appear tiny, white and oval-shaped, resembling small grains of rice. They hatch into nymphs that will develop into different castes within the colony.
Nymph Stage
After hatching, nymphs undergo several molts, gradually maturing into different roles such as workers, soldiers or reproductive alates. During this stage, they develop the anatomical features characteristic of their caste. Worker are the most numerous caste are responsible for foraging and nest maintenance, while soldier defend the colony.
Adult Stage
Mature colony members can take on specialised functions. Notably, the wing reproductive , leave the nest during swarming seasons to mate and establish new colonies. Most of them reach adulthood around 100 days after hatching. The entire lifecycle varies from several months to a year with the queen potentially living up to 20 years.
Colony Growth and Reproduction
Once alates swarm and find suitable sites, they shed their wings and dig a chamber to start a new colony. From these, worker emerge, progressively building and expanding the colony to millions of individuals over time.
The Termiteย Anatomy
Subterranean are the most common type found in Singapore. Unfortunately, they are the most destructive. The two species of subterranean are the Easternย Subterranean, Reticulitermes Flavipes,ย which can found in the United States. Andย the other species is Asian Subterranean, Coptotermes Gestroi, found in Southeast Asia.
Drywoodย from its name, requires less moisture to survive. They feed on wooden furnitures, door, frame and the kitchen cabinet. During swarming season, they swarms in search looking for a new nest. These flying termite in Singapore will look for wooden area and will bore a small hole to penetrate the wood.ย
The damage they inflict is not as extreme as the subterranean. The drywood termite treatments, unfortunately, can only control the drywood termite infestation.
Dampwood termite infestation needs excessive moisture in the wood to thrive. They look for woods or areas that might have any water intrusion to start a colony.ย Some of the areas that might be conducive for them are leaking roofs and woods that is touching the ground. They use their fecal pellets to protect their colony from the air.
The wet wood gives them more protection as the faecal pellets stick together to the side of the nest easily. Damp wood termites get inside holes or cracks and start the infestation.
The Termiteย Dietary
Some termite species, such as subterranean forage underground or within wooden structures, traveling in mud tubes for protection. Others, like drywood infest intact, dry wood without needing soil contact. Generally cellulose feeders, meaning their diet is primarily wood, plant material and other organic matter rich in cellulose.
Wood and Structural Material
They readily consumeย infested woodย in buildings, furniture and even support beams, leading toย structural damageย if unchecked.
Paper and Cardboard
They also feed on paper products, cardboard boxes and books. Making them a concern in households and commercial storage areas.
Organic Debris
In nature, termites play a vital role by decomposing fallen logs, leaf litter and other organic matter.
Learn About The Termite Caste
Termite Colony
A thriving termite colony revolves around its caste system, which is essential to its survival and efficiency. The colony primarily consists of three castes: worker termites, soldiers and reproductive members.
Subterranean Colony
Three types of termites in Singapore in a subterranean caste and all the three groups differ in colour. Workers are of cream or milky colour, whereby the soldiers are of the same body colour but with a brown head. The reproductive, the queen and king, are usually darker in colour than the rest of the colony. Just like in any well-run underground colony, every group has its own task and responsibility.
Worker termites main job is to feed the colony as the soldiers, king and queen are unable to feed themselves. They rely solely on the worker foraging on cellulose found in wood, trees and paper products. They do not have eyes and move around using scents and moisture trails.
The soldiers are task at protect the colony from any pest intrusion from ants or termites from another colony. Equip 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 their colony.
Drywood Colony
The queen will lay the first eggs. These nymphs include both soldier and reproductive, they do not have a distinct worker caste. They will start feeding across the grain of the infested wood and from tunnel and chambers.ย The tunnel is use to push the faecal pellets out of their colony.
Due to their clean behaviour, you can find their faecal pellets dropped outside their colony or mud trail. They are often mistaken for ants during the swarming season. Drywood have all four wings that are of the same size for while the ants possess two on the same size. Usually only one pair of primary reproductive which are the king and the queen task to grow the size of the colony.
Another pair of reproductive swarmers, will leave the colony after about 3 to 5 years to start one on their own. They are often subtle and can go undetected during the initial infestation.
Dampwood Colony
In a dampwood colony, they have the reproductive (a king and a queen), soldiers and alate (swarmers). They do not have any workers although immature termite will assume the roles of a worker. The number is normally small compared to the others.
The soldiers, with large head and mandibles, protect the colony from any predators such as ants. The alate (swarmer) has reproductive function and are the only one with a pair of wings. During the mating season, the alate will fly out of their nest to form their own colony. Their mating season is usually during the wet season as this allow them to create a good living condition.
The alate will shed their wings after they land on a suitable location and will start looking for a partner. It takes a few years for the colony to grow before new alate (swarmers) start looking for their new nest.
Worker
Worker are the most numerous and are responsible for foraging, feeding other members. They care for the young and building and maintaining shelter tubes. They are typically soft-bodied, pale in color, and have straight antennae. They are the main agents that damage wooden structures, infesting wood furniture and other materials rich in cellulose.
Soldiers
Soldiers have a defensive role in the colony. They have larger heads and jaws (mandibles) to protect against invaders. They communicate with other castes primarily through chemical signals and their presence helps maintain colony integrity during threats.
Reproductive Members
This caste includes the king and queen, who are responsible for reproduction and maintaining the colony's growth. The queen can lay hundreds or even thousands of eggs each day. Additionally, winged reproductive or flying termites swarm in Singapore, swarm during specific seasons to establish new colonies.
Learn to Know When you Will Need Termite Control Services
Signs of Termite Infestation
Early detection of termite activity is crucial to prevent costly structural damage. Recognising the signs of infestations allows homeowners to take prompt action.
Discarded Wings
During their mating flights, flying termites in Singapore emerge en masse, leaving behind wings near windows, doors, or light fixtures. These discarded wings are a clear indicator that termites are in the vicinity and preparing to establish new colonies.
Fecal Pellets
Soft, granular and often pellet-shaped, faecal pellets may accumulate near infested areas, especially with drywood species. These pellets are a byproduct of their digestion of cellulose.
Damaged Wood
Hollowed-out, soft or crumbling wood, often with mud tubes or tunnels, suggests ongoing infestation. Look for paint that shows the bubbles effect or cracks over infested areas.
Frass and Mud Tubes
Visible mud tubes along walls, foundations or in crawl spaces indicate subterranean termites actively feeding within or beneath structures.
Sagging or Bumping Structures
Soft, damaged wood, especially in areas with high moisture, points to dampwood termite species activity. They can cause significant structural compromise if not addressed.
These are the types of Termite commonly found in Singapore
Types of Termite
Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus)
Subterranean species are the most common and destructive species of termites in Singapore and many parts of the world. They typically live underground and build mud tubes to travel from their nest to food sources. Their colonies can grow to immense sizes, sometimes containing hundreds of thousands of individuals. With ability to forge extensive underground networks makes them particularly difficult to eradicate.
Highly adaptive and tend to infest a wide range of wooden structures, often causing significant structural damage before detection. They thrive in moist environments, making areas like basements, garden beds, and foundations prime neighborhoods for infestation. Active subterranean colonies can go unnoticed until visible damage appears, such as hollowed-out wood or mud residues.
Drywood Termite (Cryptotermes cynocephalus)
Drywood species differ from subterranean in habitat preferences, infesting dry, sound wood without needing contact with soil or moisture. Capable of establishing colonies within infested wood such as furniture, doorframes and attic beams. Typically smaller and have a distinguishable appearance characterised by their straight antennae and a more golden-brown tone. Because they do not require moisture, they are harder to detect early, often leading to concealed drywood termite infestations.
The signs include faecal pellets that resemble grains of sand or coffee grounds, often collected near infested wood. They cause significant damage to wooden structures if left untreated, emphasising the importance of our regular termite inspections.
Dampwood Termite (Archotermopsidae)
Dampwood prefers decaying, damp or rotting wood in areas with high moisture levels. Such as wood in contact with soil, decayed logs or logs left outdoors. They tend to be larger than drywood and subterranean species, easily identify by their robust bodies and straight antennae. While less common in fully dry structures, dampwood termite infestation can still threaten wooden decks, fences and outdoor structures.
They contribute to natural decomposition but become pests when they invade damp, infested wood in homes or gardens. Potentially leading to localised damage if not controlled.
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