Cobb County Extension Service

Fact Sheet on 

email: uge1067@uga.edu

References:

Swarms of insects flying around your house in a slow flitting motion? Do they seem to rise up in a bunch and then fall back to the ground? Is the swarm inside your house near a window? You may have a termite swarm. But DON'T PANIC! It is a widespread misconception that termites eat wood quickly and, if left uncontrolled, will rapidly cause extensive damage to a structure. First you want to positively identify just what the insect is in order to determine the proper control action to take, if necessary. Even if it is termites you have plenty of time to make an informed decision on the course of action. Don't let anyone scare you with a need to rush and make an immediate decision. The termites didn't hurry; you don't need to either. You do need to read this information first and then if you have any questions about what you have or what to do, call your county Extension Service office for assistance.

The termite that is of primary concern in the piedmont area of Georgia is the Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Another termite you may have heard about is the Formosan Termite (Coptotermes formosanus). The Formosan termite is a problem in Louisiana and south Florida but not yet a problem in Georgia.

Termites and ant workers should not be easily confused. Ant workers are dark red or black and move about in the open. They also have a noticeable pinched waist. The worker termites are a gray-white in color and generally slower moving than ants. The termite workers do not have a pinched waist; the area of the body behind the head gradually widens to the middle of the abdomen.

The reproductive males and females (kings and queens) also have distinctive body types like the workers. The wings of the termite reproductives are opaque with both the front and hind pair appearing equal in size and shape. Ant reproductives have transparent wings with the front pair being larger than the hind pair.

Finally, the antennae of termites stick out fairly straight from the head and look like a string of beads. The antennae of ants are bent or "elbow" shaped with the segments being of different sizes.

Termite castes, winged reproductive in upper left

Winged adult ant

Termites live in a highly developed social structure in chambers in soil or wood, usually dead but they may attack living material. Occasionally they are even found in older woody stems of tomato plants. There are three castes (forms) within a termite colony. The three are workers, soldiers and reproductives. There are two types of reproductives, the primary king and queen and supplementary reproductives. All caste members go through three stages of development: egg, nymph and adult. The adult workers feed all the other members of the colony. A new colony starts when the winged reproductives from an old colony swarm, go to the ground mate and lose their wings. The newly mated queen will dig into the ground to start the colony. Once she lays her first batch of eggs she waits until they have developed before she lay any more eggs. She needs workers in her colony because they do all the work as well as feed the rest of the colony members, especially the queen. It takes 2-3 years before all castes are present in a new colony.

Termite worker, note no waist    Termite soldier,  enlarged head

Colonies develop very slowly; establishment success rate is low, less than 1%. It may take a colony from four to ten years development to become large enough to produce a new batch of winged reproductives. These are the ones that will swarm. As a colony ages it may have additional reproductives, supplementary reproductives, which lay eggs. Individually the supplementary reproductives don't produce more eggs than the primary queen; however, their combined total egg production may be many times that of the queen.

Termite queen, wings no longer attached

The three stages that all castes go through are the egg, nymph and adult. The nymph and the adult queens and adult soldiers depend on the adult workers to feed them. They do not feed themselves. Termites can not digest wood directly. They need to have a protozoon in their gut that does the actual digestion. The protozoa must be passed on to all new members of the colony. Feeding on the wastes of other members of the colony usually does this. In order for termites to grow through the stages they must shed their skin. In the process they loose the protozoa in their gut. So a constant supply of the protozoa must be available to keep the colony healthy.

The workers chew on the wood that will become the food. This is what causes the damage to wooden structural members. Workers then go back down to the colony and feed the others. Tubes are sometimes built on the outside of walls to bypass an area, such as a brick or concrete wall. Subterranean termites need moisture at least in the form of increased humidity. Sometimes they will bring mud up from the ground and pack it in the damaged wood to provide the moisture. Termites can travel hundreds of feet in search of wood food source. They are slow but persistent. The forage area for subterranean termites can be up to 25,000 square feet (approx. 1/2 acre).

Two signs of termite presence that the homeowner is most likely to find are swarms of winged reproductives or mud tubes on the side of the foundation. The presence of the winged reproductives indicates an active colony 4 - 10 years old somewhere nearby. The colony may be in the house or in some wood outside. Mud tubes on the foundation, if they contain live termites, would indicate and active colony attacking the building. Either finding would be cause to call a pest control professional to evaluate the situation.

Termite tubes on wall surface

To determine if the insects found are actually termites you can take a sample to your county Extension office for proper identification.

Termites create tunnels in wood. They prefer soft grain, spring growth wood or damaged and decaying wood. They will feed on dry lumber as long as the moisture from the ground is adequate. To increase the moisture level in the wood the workers may bring mud up from the soil and pack it in the tunnels. The presence of mud in the tunnels indicates the tunnels were made by termites and not by carpenter ants. Carpenter ants leave clean, smooth tunnels. The absence of mud does not eliminate the possibility of termites. They don't always pack it in the tunnels.

Termites may enter a building in a number of ways. Wood or siding that is in contact with the soil can provide direct access as can cracks in the foundation. Brick, stone veneer or stucco over foam in contact with the ground can also provide hidden access. Waste building materials buried around the site can act as an attraction for foraging termites. You or a pest control professional need to be alert to the many possible pathways into the home and inspect carefully for the presence of termites.

Structural members can be checked for internal damage by poking them with an ice pick, awl or screwdriver. If termites or carpenter ants have heavily tunneled the wood the point will go in very easily. If this happens to you it is time to call in professional help. The damage may be old damage and not from an active colony, so don't panic. Damaged wood may be found during remodeling projects; again, call a professional to determine if it is old damage or an active colony.

Remember, termite damage occurs slowly; plenty of time to make informed decisions on control methods.

Control Objective: To protect the structure from damage by termites.

Keys to control:

• Moisture management
• Good air flow
• Soil - termites prefer sand over clay
• Organic mulches (wood chips or pine straw) should be kept away from wood structures
• Foundation plantings should be three feet away from structures
• Only wood treated for subsoil contact should be allowed in contact with the soil
• Stucco or other siding materials should start of six (6) inches above grade

Moisture: Control of moisture level in the soil and the wood of structures will help make the location less attractive to termites and other insects. Clear up any leaks that may allow wood to become soaked, either by rain or leaking pipes. Check drainage around the exterior of the structure. Make sure that water drains away from the foundation so the ground doesn't remain damp. Destroy any mud tubes to expose the termites to drying air and predators.

Biological: a biological termiticide containing the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae is applied as an above ground liquid spot treatment. The treatment MUST come in direct contact with a significant number of the termites in order to provide control.

Chemical: Chemical control is involved requiring specialized equipment, knowledge of building materials and soils, termite behavior and proper placement of the chemicals, as well as persistence of the chemicals. Liquid termiticides may be applied in trenches around the exterior of the foundation. Additionally, they may be applied under the slab or basement before the building is constructed. If an infestation occurs post-construction then the liquid may be rodded and injected into the ground around the foundation. Holes may be drilled through the slab and into block walls to inject the pesticide. The object of the liquid pesticide is to create an impenetrable barrier to the termites. Liquid termiticides provide the most complete coverage and will be the best choice if a single method of control is chosen. The chemicals available today do not have the persistence of chemicals used in the past. Retreatment may be necessary in 5 - 7 years to keep a barrier in place. The chemicals are available to the homeowner but proper and effective application can be a problem. Care must be taken to avoid ground water contamination.

Termites are persistent in their search and will look for any gaps in the barrier. This is where baits may be effective in helping to close any gaps.

Baits:

Why develop baits? Essentially three reasons:

    a. loss of chlordane from the marketplace

    b. environmental pressure - concern for the environment

    c. success of cockroach and ant baits

There are three baits systems currently available on the market and probably more on the way. They kill the termites by affecting its biological development. They are slow acting and depend on the workers sharing the treated bait with its colony mates. The foraging workers are responsible for providing food for all the others in the colony. This is how the poison is transmitted to the queen. She never leaves the colony once it is established.

How the baiting system works:

1. Pre-bait stations use a piece of wood inside a plastic container. Each manufacturer sets it up a little differently. Should be checked at least monthly for presence of termites feeding on the wood.
2. Bait the station with the poison soaked bait material after the wood in the monitor station has been attacked. Bait only stations with hits. Keep the station loaded with baits at all times (a monthly check may not be adequate, termites will leave an empty station and go who knows where.)
3. Monitor - after the station has been baited with the poison until no more is being eaten, return to pre-bait status until new hits are taken. Then the service may go to quarterly monitoring if the label allows.
4. Baiting may take several months to complete and that there will be some degree of damage before the bait takes effect.

Management and homeowners will need to be alert to technicians becoming complacent and cutting corners and not carefully inspecting all bait stations. There are even bait systems that do not include an active control ingredient. These are used as an activity monitoring system to determine if there are foraging termites present. Also, a service treatment guarantee does not mean that termites will never return, nor does the reappearance of termites mean the prior treatment was done incorrectly. No single method of termite treatment, chemical, bait, surveillance, moisture control or other, has been shown to be 100% effective to date. The best method involves IPM - Integrated Pest Management - that involves the use of a multifaceted attack using some or all of the methods mentioned above.

Do-It-Yourself Termite Control:

The chemicals and bait systems are available commercially for the homeowner to conduct termite control on their own property. The problems involved do-it-yourself termite control are multiple. First, and probably most difficult, is putting the liquid chemical down so that it forms a proper barrier. Without expensive application equipment the chemical will not be able to be put down as an effective barrier. Using the bait system, the homeowner would have to be disciplined to insure that bait was always available; every bait station checked routinely (monthly); and, when necessary, bait the proper station with poisoned bait and keep it present until no more feeding occurred. Care must be taken when inspecting the bait stations because termites are fickle and when disturbed will readily abandon a feeding site for another. Thus the cycle of baiting and poisoning would have to start again. Over time the expense of do-it-yourself would probably exceed that of commercial termite control and have no repair clause to fall back on if damage occurred. Damage repair is your own responsibility. Termite control is best left to professional pest control companies.

Choosing a Pest Control Professional: This is where some time and research should be expended. Take time and contact at least 4 or 5 companies to determine if they will be able to do what you want and expect. Have them inspect your property while you are present, observe carefully. Be sure to have them thoroughly review their contract with you and identify specifically what control method they will use and what chemicals (even baits use chemicals) will be used, potential hazards to your family and pets, frequency of monitoring and just what the monitoring entails. Understand the contract before signing. Basic is that they should have a current pesticide applicators license. For more information on questions to ask check the fact sheet Termites - An Action Plan for Identification, Eradication, Baiting, Prevention, call 770-528-4070 for a copy. Additionally: 

1. Talk to friends and neighbors for recommendations of a qualified professional
2. Check with the Better Business Bureau
3. Check the Yellow Pages
4. Contact your local Extension Service office
5. Contact your state Department of Agriculture
6. Check for membership in a pest control association

In Georgia, if you are dissatisfied with the work done by your termite control company or feel they are not using proper control methods, contact the Structural Pest Control Division, Georgia Department of Agriculture at  404-656-3641. They have inspectors that will discuss the situation with you and if the situation warrants they will make a site visit. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is responsible for the licensing and inspecting of pest control companies in Georgia.

References:

Dr Dan Suiter, Extension Entomologist, Griffin Station, University of Georgia, personal communication, March 30, 2000

Termites: How to Select a Termite Control Service, Dr. Beverly Sparks, UGA Cooperative Extension Service

Termites, HYG-2092-97, http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/hyg-fact/2000/2092.html

TERMITES, Home & Landscape, http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7415.html

The Changing Face of Termite Control, Dr. Michael Potter, http://www.pctonline.com/

CAUTION! Pesticides mentioned in this publication are only intended as a guide for use in Georgia, USA! Mention of a specific trade name does not constitute an endorsement for that product, but rather an example of use. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS FOR SAFE USE OF ANY PESTICIDE! The use of some products may not be legal in your state or country. Please check with your local county agent or regulatory official before using any pesticide mentioned in this publication.

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability.

Page last updated 03/22/01, Arnott