12 Termite Not So Fun Facts:
Long Live the Queen: Termite queens can live up to 30 years, which means some termites may have been in your home longer than you have. Perhaps you’re the intruder!- Soldiers’ Sacrifice: When a termite colony is attacked, usually by ants, the soldiers rush to the front lines. Worker termites will seal the hole behind them, ensuring the soldiers fight to the death to protect the colony.
- Dependent Soldiers: Soldier termites have large mandibles for fighting but can’t feed themselves. They rely on worker termites to bring them food, making them entirely dependent on their colony.
- Obedient Workers: Termite workers chew wood because the queen’s pheromones tell them to. If the queen dies, her signal stops, and the workers may actually starve because they no longer get the chemical command to eat.
- Digestive Partners: Termite aren’t born with the ability to digest wood. They need to ingest protozoans they receive from adults to do so. This is why fumigation works so well. Even though the gas only kills the living termites, not the eggs, the soon to be born termites won’t survive without the adults. It’s also the reason why fumigation isn’t the answer for other insects. For example, a fumigation may not entirely eradicate a cockroach problem since only adult roaches are affected.
- Tear Away Wings: Swarming termites have perforated wings they shed after their first flight, signaling they’re ready to mate. So, finding a pile of wings is like spotting a “honeymoon suite” sign for termites—but don’t expect any birth control here!
- The Queen’s Headcount: The queen keeps a running total of the members in her colony. Unlike termiticides that are unknowingly transferred to the queen, orange oil only kills on contact. Unless the substance reaches the queen, she’ll simply make more of what was killed.
- One Man’s Toothpaste… Borates are in toothpaste but they mean death to termites. They kill the protozoans in a termite’s gut. Without protozoans, termites can’t digest wood, and either starve or die of constipation.
- The Queen has Backups: These secondary termites can produce even more offspring than primary reproductives and can splinter a single colony into multiple colonies. If the queen’s signal weakens, nymphs can turn into new reproductives, allowing colonies to expand.
- A Subterranean Termite Treatment Could Trigger a Swarm: Imagine you just paid for a subterranean termite treatment and the next day your house is hit by a swarm of subterraneans. It can happen. Subterranean termites typically swarm on warm days after rain, as damp soil is easier to burrow into. Soil treatments with liquid termiticides can trigger a swarm since termites might mistake the moisture for rain.
- Ants Might Show Up When Your Tent Comes Down: Ants and termites are sworn enemies, so if you fumigate your home, dead termites in the wood might attract ants looking for an easy meal.
- They don’t sleep: Termites never rest—they chew 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you notice signs of termite activity, don’t wait. Schedule a free inspection today—we’re here to help.
John Gelhard
Owner/Operator of California Termite. Operator License No. 14720.