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The word "Termites" can strike fear in any home owners heart! If they attack your home, they can be devastating, causing thousands of dollars of damage. Yet many home owners either do not know about Termites, or have a lot of misinformation about termites.

 

Termites are insects that belong to the order of Isoptera.

 

Termites are quite often incorrectly referred to as white ants, but aside from their social habits of living in colonies, they do not resemble true ants.

In fact their closest insect relative is the cockroach.

 

There are approximately 2800 species of termites in the world. Of which, there are 360 species in Australia.

 

Most Termites in Australia do not damage homes, instead they forage around bush land breaking down fallen trees, and feeding on grasses. In fact there are only about 20 - 25 Termite species Australia wide of any economic significance. Unfortunately for us here in Perth,  one of Australia's most destructive family of termites, the Coptotermes species call our City home.​

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The below information is for the more common termites in the Subterranean family.

 

Termites live in colonies, and depending on the species, can range in numbers from a few hundred to a few million.

 

Subterranean Termites function quite similarly to a bee hive, in the colony there are:

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A colony has the following castes:

• A King and Queen - For reproduction

• Soldiers - To defend the colony and workers

• Workers - To feed the colony, and care for eggs and the young. The worker termites are the only caste which actively attack timber.

• Alates - These are winged future kings and queens that take flight in humid conditions to establish new colonies.

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The Termite Queen can live for up to 20 years, and will be fertilised by the king over this time.

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The worker termites leave the nest in search of cellulose (found in wood and some other products) and return to the nest to feed the rest of the colony.

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When a colony becomes large enough, winged reproductive's, called alates, will take flight in search of a mate and suitable nesting sight. These 'colonising flights' take place normally on warm humid days, frequently before a storm in the months of November - December and March - April.

 

By flighting at times of high humidity, the soft bodied alates can avoid desiccation.

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The worker termites leave the nest in search of cellulose (found in wood and some other products) and return to the nest to feed the rest of the colony.

 

What do termites look like?

 

• Termites are roughly the size of a garden ant.

• They are usually a light brown to creamy white colour

• Often found after disturbing infested timber, or soil 

• Often conceal themselves in mud "shelter tubes"

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