One of the biggest destroyers of furniture, decks, doghouses, and other things made of wood is, ironically, one of the smaller creatures of the animal kingdom. Termites are often referred to as white ants (incorrectly), while they are a species of social cockroaches, as shown by research conducted by Dr. Paul Eggleton and his associates at the Natural History Museum in London. It is no surprise, however, that these wood-devouring crawlers are mistaken for their darker-colored counterparts, as many of their behaviors show a great similarity to ants. They are difference from other roaches in that termites produce offspring to carry out specific tasks such as defense, reproduction, foraging, or building.
They are one of the most thriving insect families on the planet, having colonized most landmasses except for Antarctica. Not only do they vary in size from 1/8 inch to an inch in length, but colonies can vary in the number of individual members from just a few hundred to huge communities of several millions. Their queens have the longest lifespan of any known insect, with some observed colony matriarchs living as long as 30 to 50 years. Unlike ants, which undergo a complete metamorphosis, termites undergo an incomplete metamorphosis through egg, nymph, and adult stages. The colonies themselves are also considered superorganisms, as the entire society is self-regulating, and the highly-specialized individuals would likely not survive independently.
Termites can damage many different structures, commercial, residential, and even active construction sites. While there are approximately 2,800 kinds of termite, only a select few wreak the most havoc. The subterranean, or ground termite, is the most common when it comes to human interactions. They are believed to cause up to 95% of termite-related damage, which is almost unbelievable considering that they cause billions of dollars’ worth of yearly damage. This is one of the species whose colonies can reach seven-figure populations. They get their name because the colonies are created underground, making it difficult to recognize an infestation until it has gotten completely out-hand. Some of the signs that you have them are peeling paint that resembles water damage, tiny holes in wood with small piles of sawdust looking material below it, and discarded wings around window sills.
One of these insect super-colonies can eat up to 15 pounds of wood weekly, going through garage doors, decks, patios, house foundations, and more, quicker than most people would think possible. Even worse, they've been found to chew through plastic and other organic materials in search of their preferred meal.
When Medieval lords built their castles, there needed to be ramparts, moats, and other defenses in place to properly protect the inhabitants. When it comes to insects, homeowners must ensure that their castle has the proper fortifications to keep invaders out. If you live in the northeast Indiana region and you've got termites, ants, mosquitoes, or other tiny, unwanted guests infiltrating your home, contact us at Fortified Pest Control. We are the region's number one rated pest control service, and we train and work hard to maintain that rating. Contact us to for more information or an estimate for your current issue.