Termites are a common insect , known by many names , including " white ants " or the " silent destroyers . " Whatever you call them , these athirst little insects are capable of causing a great deal of legal injury if they get into your home ’s foundation , windows , or doors .
The white ant ’s closelipped congener is another common family pesterer : the roach . They populate in dependency , like bee and ants , with an adequate numeral of males and females . termite have been around for 250 million years , and almost 2,750 species have been identified , most of them native to tropical rainforests [ source : Encyclopedia Britannica ] .
Some species of white ant have been relocated to parts of the macrocosm far away from their aboriginal land as stowaways on ships , blot out in the wood of crates , baseball bat , furniture – even in the structure of the boats themselves .
There ’s good news show about white ant … and then there ’s uncollectible news . As an authoritative part of the ecosystem , they feed on dead plant and Tree , including Grant Wood and plant life matter in the soil . On the beneficial side , their wolfish feeding habits help exchange works cellulose into substances that help put up newfangled emergence . They measure only around a centimetre in distance , but their back talk are capable of tearing off self-aggrandising lump of food for thought .
On the other hired man , termites can cause costly scathe to wooden structure and crop . Interestingly , termites that are n’t native specie to an area can cause the most damage ; away from their natural element , they attempt tax shelter in man - made building , make terrible harm to houses and article of furniture . As an instance , moot the Taiwanese subterranean termite : It ’s aboriginal to China and is the most destructive termite coinage in the United States [ germ : white ant 101 ] .
Subterranean termite like the Formosan require food for thought , moisture , protection , and optimum temperatures to survive – and the conditions around your house may fit the bill nicely . They normally see their fashion into a nursing home through its foundation . Once indoors , they can wreak havoc on the model of your home , along with any wood flooring , cabinetwork , doorway , window , even piece of furniture . Dampwood white ant be in heavily forested areas because they prefer wet wood . Drywood termites , more rarefied in the United States , live in the wood they consume and sometimes invade wall and article of furniture .
How do you know if your house is invade ? A temporary swarm of winged insects inside the house or emerge from the land around your house is one sign . swarm are most probable to hap in the springtime , when newly mature termites are draw to the light , ready to find oneself a fellow and await for a place to start a novel colony . Other signs that you have termites - in - residence include cracked or eruct paint , mud tubes on exterior wall , beams or Australian crawl space , or sign of termite droppings . you may also tap on any Ellen Price Wood that you suspect is infect : It will voice vacuous .
To prevent white ant from invading your home , keep moisture problems at bay , supervise areas where wood touch moist dirt , and move possible food rootage like woodpiles forth from the firm . It ’s wise to to schedule a even termite discourse plan that may include inspection and discourse to prevent any problems from occurring .
