What are termites?
Termites are soft-bodied insects commonly known as white ants. They are small in size (4-11 mm) and have three distinct body parts: the head, thorax, and abdomen. Termite colonies consist of different-looking individuals known as castes, each with specific duties within the colony. The largest member of a termite colony is the queen, which is also the longest-living insect in the world.
Termites belong to the order Isoptera, a name derived from their having equally sized wings (iso = equal and pteron = wing). When present, the wings are long and slender, with two pairs of similar size and shape. These wings are usually shed after a short nuptial flight, during which males and females pair up to start a new colony.
Termites are social insects, characterized by the division of labor among castes, sharing of food, shelter, and resources, and cooperation in rearing the young. The castes include workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Unlike most other social insects, where the majority of members are female, subterranean termite colonies are composed of both males and females.
Worker Caste
Worker termites are physically and sexually immature males and females, forming the most abundant caste in a termite colony. They are responsible for foraging for food, food storage, brood care, nest maintenance, excavating, repairing, and building galleries and shelter tubes. Workers are the only caste capable of digesting the cellulose in wood, achieved with the help of flagellates in their gut that assist in cellulose digestion. These wingless insects are typically the first termites seen when an active shelter tube or a piece of infested wood is disturbed.
Soldier Caste
Soldier termites are also physically and sexually immature males and females, with their primary function being colony defense. Many soldiers have enlarged jaws that render them incapable of feeding themselves, so they rely on workers to provide them with regurgitated food. The heads of soldiers are often enormously elongated, and they exhibit both anatomical and behavioral specializations. Termite soldiers are usually blind, but in certain families, soldiers that develop from the reproductive line have partially functional eyes. Species identification and other taxonomic work often rely on the distinct characteristics of the soldiers’ heads, mandibles, and nasus.
Reproductive Caste
The alates, or winged reproductives, possess two pairs of wings that are equal in size. Alates have fully functional eyes and can withstand dehydration. This caste is often mistaken for flying ants, leading many to overlook the presence of termites near their property.
The reproductives play a crucial role in establishing new colonies. There are three types of reproductives in a termite colony: "Primary," "Secondary," and "Tertiary" reproductives. Primary reproductives are swarmers (alates) who have survived the dangers of dispersal or "nuptial" flight and have settled down to lay and nurse the first brood. When a termite colony becomes too large and the queen cannot lay enough eggs to sustain it, secondary sexually competent reproductives are produced to ease the queen’s burden. Although secondary reproductives lay fewer eggs than the queen, there can be hundreds of them in an established colony, contributing significantly to the egg-laying capacity. If the queen dies, they can take over the entire reproduction process.
Tertiary reproductives are derived from fully developed workers when a part of the colony becomes isolated from the main colony. These reproductives, or ergatoids, are wingless and resemble large workers.
Difference between termites and ants
There are three main morphological differences that distinguish winged termites from winged ants. Termites have beaded antennae that are straight or slightly curved, while ants have distinct elbowed antennae. Winged termites have a broad waist, unlike ants, which have a constricted waist. Additionally, termite wings are all the same size, whereas the front pair of wings on ants is much longer.
How Termites Enter Homes/Properties
Termites are constantly moving through the soil in search of food. A property that seems safe today might not be tomorrow. They can enter homes through cracks as thin as a piece of paper. These tiny creatures respond to environmental cues such as moisture and temperature gradients. Possible entry points include foundation cracks, wall joints, and gaps around plumbing and pipes.
Although termites may appear to wander randomly underground, studies suggest otherwise. They search for food within tunnels that spread out from their colony in a radial pattern. These search patterns divide and subdivide, allowing termites to cover as much area as possible. In other words, if a property is within their range, they will eventually find it.
What Are The Warning Signs?
Termites rarely come to the surface to feed, so damage is often discovered too late. However, there are several signs to watch for:
- Swarmers around the house, especially near light sources after rain.
- Mud tubes on foundations or walls, run from the ground upwards into the house.
- Discarded wings near doors and windows.
- Paint that has started to bubble on wood surfaces, which sound hollow when tapped.
- Acoustic signals of termites gnawing on or knocking against wood surfaces.
Termite Service
Termites are among the earliest diverging insect orders in the early insect revolution. Despite being some of the first insect ancestors, they have advanced social behavior. There are nearly 2,800 termite species worldwide. In many Malaysian cities, termite infestations in wooden structures or beneath properties are common. If you notice termite eggs or see your wooden items deteriorating, it's important to contact a professional termite service. Rapid Kill offers advanced solutions for both residential and commercial properties. We use top-quality pest control methods to keep termites away from your property. You can choose from our customized plans to protect your home or office from these pests.
Our Termite Control Treatments
Termite Baiting System: We use active termite baits that disrupt and collapse entire termite colonies, helping to curb termite growth effectively.
Inspection of Termites: Many homes in Malaysia, especially in Kuala Lumpur, are at risk of termite infestations. We conduct thorough inspections to determine the most effective treatment and keep these pests away.
Liquid Termiticide Treatment: Our team applies liquid termite solutions designed to eliminate entire colonies. We use powerful chemical solutions that eradicate termites while ensuring safety for humans.
Use of Termite Monitoring Solution: We employ discreet monitoring solutions to detect any termite activity. Our team installs these systems to minimize the risk of infestation and ensure early detection.
