Termites

 

There are more than 2000 different species of termite of which approximately 70 attack wood structures frequently enough to be labelled a plague.

 

 

They are mainly divided into two groups ( Reticulitermes Banyulensis ) or ( Reticulitermes grassei ), subterranean and those that are not, and in the latter group ( Kalotermes Flavicollis ) those which inhabit dry wood, damp wood and those which pulverise. The most pernicious are the 'subterraneans' (Reticulitermes grassei). This is due to their lifestyle habits and the areas in which they look for food. Cellulose is a complex chemical compound which is found in the cellular walls of plants. These insects play a very important role in the breakdown and decomposition of fallen trees, leaves and other organic products. The subterranean termites build their colonies in the earth, trees, posts or even under our houses, and remain there looking for a damp source, unless there is a source of damp in the structure eg. Because of condensation, leaking pipes etc.

 

Each colony behaves individually and independently and is composed of between 60000 and 1.5 million termites. Termites are social insects with a very complex structure in which individuals belong to different groups which in turn perform different jobs. These include the reproducers (queen, king and the winged termites), the soldiers and the workers. The latter are small, between 2.5 and 6.3 mm in length, and are a creamy yellow colour and have no wings. They are in charge of the main bulk of work that goes on within the colony and consequently the major damage in wood structures is caused by them.

They are the first type that is seen when a nest is opened. The soldiers are larger, about 5-10 mm in length In a colony, one twentieth of the total number of the working population are soldiers. They have a large dark head with elongated sharp and strong jaws which they use to attack intruders. The soldiers in the colony are in charge of defending the colony against their natural enemies. The soldiers are not able to nourish themselves directly from the wood. In the same way, the reproducers have to be nourished by the workers. Both the soldiers and the reproducers are blind.

 

The owners of properties affected rarely detect the presence of soldiers and workers. However, in spring and autumn, depending on the species,winged reproducers can be seen. This form of termite can often and easily be confused with winged ants unless they are closely examined.

 

Their digestive apparatus has evolved to such an extent that their digestive cells, in symbiosis with an abundance of flagellated fauna, are capable of breaking down the cellulose in the wood making it absorbable.

 

Once the population in a colony of termites reaches a certain size, normally more than 10000 individuals, winged reproducers develop and leave the colony creating a swarm. This swarm is composed of approximately 50% male and 50% female reproducers who leave the nest together at a certain point in time. Normally, spring showers, warmer temperatures and longer days are the catalyst for these reproducers to leave the nest, generally occurring at dawn or dusk.

 

After landing, the female disposes of her wings, elevates her abdomen and emits a pheromone which attracts the male of the species. If the appropriate male should find her, they come into contact and the male also disposes of his wings. The pair then run in tandem for a short while looking for right piece of wood on which to start their nest. Their first lay will immediately be in charge of the maintenance of the colony and the search for food, whilst the female will solely dedicate herself to producing new eggs. The pair are joined for life and the female can produce some 1000 eggs daily from her fourth year of life. If the queen or king die, another member of the colony will become a reproducer and replace them.

Subterranean termites live in the ground. They search for wood further away from the centre of the colony or depending on the growth of their population. The individuals that search for food create subterranean tunnels or tunnels above ground called 'refuge tunnels', made of clay, faeces, residues etc and use these tunnels to find new sources of food and to connect the food source to the ground. They can enter buildings that do not have any wood directly in contact with the ground by using such tunnels. The termites can access the interior of the building via gaps, expansive joints, underground foam insulation, bricks with holes, concrete blocks, or by spaces created for pipes equal to or less than 0.8 mm in size. Any building constructed on a platform with a basement or hollow foundations can be infested by termites. Additionally, buildings with metal structures and masonry walls can be infested by termites because of the existence of wooden doors, window frames, support beams, wardrobes or shelves.

 

Recent studies have shown that more than 600000 homes in Spain suffer from damages caused by termites. The realisation that their home is infested with termites frightens homeowners. Normally they can't see them or hear them and often only a trained professional can find signs of infestation. To effectively control termite infestation it is essential to employ the services of specialised teams.

 

 A specialised termite control company can provide protection against a plague of the same.

 

Signs of a termite infestation

Possible signs of termite infestation can include:

1. Mud tunnels, a pencil in diameter or more, that run through the concrete or bare walls between the floor and any wooden part of the structure.

2. Small, thin wings, all the same shape and size, between 9 and 13mm long, on the window ledge or the floor (especially if it is late spring and there has been some rain)

3. Areas of paintwork on wooden surfaces that show “bubbling” or distorted areas that are cold to the touch.

4. Any wooden part of the building (especially when dealing with support structures) that show “sinking” when pressed.