Mud Tubes and Micro Worlds – How Subterranean Termites Engineer Their Environment
Termites are little yellowish-looking insects that have infested almost every house at some point in Kansas. These insects are really organized and infest homes in large numbers as they move in colonies. Every member in their colony has a vital role to play.
Coming across these little things is relatively easy and much more frequent than you would think. However, spotting them may not be an easy task. You will have to carefully look for the different signs of their infestation in order to locate them. Most termites are not visible until they have caused a lot of damage already.
They remain hidden inside the wooden structures from which they obtain cellulose. They rarely come out and can move to the other structure once they are done making it hollow from the inside. One thing that you can do to know whether you have mites or not is to knock on different wooden objects.
It will tell you whether that structure is hollow or not. If it sounds hollow from inside, it is most probably because termites are living inside it. Right here, you can contact a professional and get those vicious insects out.
What do you understand about subterranean termites?
These are known to be the most common type of termites that infest homes. They are also known for causing the most damage to homes. They make their tunnels through which they travel. You might have questions as to why they built these tunnels.
It is to remain hidden from the humans while they are making their way to someone’s home. These tunnels are commonly called “mud tubes,” which worker termites make. They have saw-toothed jaws which they put to use in order to feed on wood and get to that cellulose, which is what they look for.
They keep on feeding on the wood for the entire day, and every day in a week. If you leave these creatures inside your home for a long time, they can cause excessive damage to your property. In some cases, there can even be a complete collapse of a particular structure.
What do the subterranean termites look like?
These termites have a caste system that is divided into three parts: soldier termites, worker termites, and reproductive termites. Queens are the most important ones among them as they are responsible for reproduction. Surprisingly, queens are much larger in size than kings in their colonies.
They are tiny in size, and their body can be either half an inch in length or ¼ of an inch in length. They also possess little hair on them, which is not really visible to people. Their jaws not only help them to bite through wood, but are also a source for them to get their food.
It also helps them in moving materials from here to there. Their heads are in the shape of a rectangle, and their bodies are flat. They are commonly seen to be creamy white in color.
Where can you find them?
You can find them in nearly every part of the United States. Since there is a moist climate in the southern parts, it provides them with the right conditions that are needed for them to thrive. They can go all in when it comes to infesting homes and make it a living hell for you.
Firewood and lumber are usually seen to be infested by these termites. However, other furniture around the house is not safe either. The size of the colony is also seen to be much bigger. The colonies can be seen feeding on trees and finding poles to feed on, too. This is in addition to feeding on different structures around homes.
Get the termites out!
You should know they are not to be taken lightly in any way. They can create havoc at your home, and thus, fighting the infestation is needed. Termites can be eliminated by contacting a pest control professional. Make the call in time and save your property from extensive damage.