Swarming Termites? Ask Universal Pest & Termite

It's that time of the year when the flowers bloom , birds sing and termites swarm. What does it mean when termites swarm? They are simply expanding their colony.The reproductive [Swarmer] does not actually eat wood. Many companies will not reveal this but it's true. The termite caste is set up much like the bee. They have a reproductive to do just that, reproduce. They have the soldier to protect the colony. They have a queen who just keeps laying eggs.They have the worker, this is the little guy who does the damage.The worker termite eats cellulose [wood], brings it back to the colony and regurgitates for everyone to enjoy.Subterranean Termites in the Virginia Beach area generally can eat approx. two feet of 2x4 within a years time. Visit www.UniversalPest.com for more photos , video and other important things to look for or give us a call 502-0200.

Termites
Termites are extremely tiny creatures (about 10mm in length), with the majority being a whitish, almost see through color, with soft bodies, 6 short legs and 2 antennae. Only the reproducers have wings and eyes to enable them to seek out other colonies; the rest of them don't fly.Reproducers and soldiers are slightly darker than the workers, with soldiers having longer and more powerful jaws so they can defend the colony against attack. The queen is the biggest of the colony, usually around 10cm in length.
How to Tell the Difference Between Ants and Termites
Termite vs Ant: It can often be difficult to tell the difference between them, particularly as termites are often mistakenly known as "white ants". While similar, they're certainly not the same and shouldn't be labeled as such. It can be even more confusing when trying to tell the difference between swarming termites and flying ants, but a good indicator is the length of the wings, if you can see them well enough. If not, wait until the swarm is over - if they've left piles of tiny wings then they're termites, as it's only those who shed their wings after swarming.Termites are also better at hiding than ants, and you're very unlikely to see them above ground unless they're swarming or if you're lucky enough to expose them. Ants, on the other hand, aren't quite as shy.

Subterranean Termites
Termites belong to numerous species and this may become an additional confusion on your being able to know how a termite looks like. Among them, the subterranean termites would be the most frequent to be found in many homes.Not everyone is familiar with what termites look like. But being able to correctly identify them is critical, for this would mean you would be able to save your home from considerable damage. These termites survive on paper products and wood and for those who are not in the know, all termites could harm their library and furniture. What should be your utmost concern though are the so-called worker termites.The termite colony consists of several groups: the soldiers, the swarmers, otherwise known as reproductives, and the workers. Most of them look like grains of rice. The soldier termites have mandibles and the reproductive termites posses wings. Worker termites are close to the appearance of the reproductives, although they are smaller and without wings. These termites have the biggest number in the colony and they are identified as the wood eaters.

The Differences Between a Flying Ant and a Termite Swarmer
When you see termite swarmers, it is a sign that there is already an ongoing termite infestation of your home. They, the swarmer termites, are responsible in propagating termite colonies. There are some people who suppose the swarmer termite and the flying ant look the same. Actually, they are not.While the ant appears to have a head, thin abdomen, and thorax, the termite appears to have only a head and a straight body. They both have four wings; however, the flying ant has longer front wings compared to the rear wings with very obvious vein marks. All the four wings of the swarmer termite, on the contrary, are of the same length and are much longer than its body and without any vein marks.A flying ant's antennae are somewhat bent that end in a somewhat small-club while that of a swarmer termite has beaded antennae, which do not curb with no club-like ends, pointing away from its body.

Getting Professional Termite Help
It is hard to remove termites, especially if the damage is widespread. What you need to do is seek the help of experts. They use proven methods to solve a serious problem like termite infestation.Their methods may include the use of chemical treatment to avert termite attack on the structure of your house. Another is the baiting method where wooden baits are applied with chemicals, which will ultimately kill the termites.


Common Signs of Termite Infestation
The Old House Web
Learn the warning signs before your house becomes a meal!
If you're a homeowner, you probably had your house inspected for termites before you bought it. But even if no termites were found at the time of purchase, you still should watch for these pests, according to an entomologist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
"To protect your investment and save yourself a lot of trouble, learn the signs of possible termite infestation," says extension entomologist Steven Jacobs. "One symptom of infestation, swarming termites, usually takes place in the spring."
In nature, termites perform a beneficial function by breaking down wood and cellulose for use by other organisms. In buildings, they may feed on structural wood, wood fixtures, paper, books, cotton and related products. "When structural damage becomes apparent, it usually is the result of years of infestation," Jacobs says. "Generally, termite problems only occur 10 or more years after construction."
Eastern subterranean termites can be found throughout Pennsylvania. These social insects live in colonies underground, where they feed mostly on old roots, tree stumps and fallen limbs.
Each colony consists of three castes: workers, soldiers and winged reproductives. The workers are creamy-white and are rarely seen unless infested wood is broken open. These quarter-inch-long termites are the ones that feed on wood and cause damage. The soldiers have elongated yellowish heads with large jaws and are about the same size as adult workers. They protect the colony in case of invasion.
The kings and queens, or reproductives, are dark brown or black, and reach up to one-half-inch long. They have two pairs of wings, which drop off shortly after they have "swarmed" to begin new colonies. "In Pennsylvania," says Jacobs, "swarms of winged termites usually emerge between February and June."
During this time, swarms may be found inside infested structures. Sometimes, their shed wings are the only evidence that termites are present. "Although the reproductives don't cause damage, swarming termites or their wings alone are sure signs that termites are working in a building," warns Jacobs.
Because winged termites often are confused with winged ants, it's important to know how to tell the difference. Ants have narrow, wasp-like waists, while termites have broad waists. Also, the wings of an ant are about the same length as its body, but a termite's wings are about twice the length of its body.
Termite tubes are another danger signal to watch for. Because they prefer dark, moist conditions, termites make these earth-colored tubes primarily as protected runways from the earth to the wood they feed on. They also may serve as swarming exits for winged termites.
"Look for these tubes on cellar walls, wooden posts, exterior masonry and trim around doors and windows," Jacobs says.
Wood attacked by termites has channels or passages coated with an earth-like material. Where the wood has been infested for some time, it may be largely hollowed out with passages and may look rotten. When such wood is probed with a screwdriver, many worker termites spill out.
Most infestations occur in basements and in the structural timbers just above cellar walls. Wooden posts, steps, door frames and trim embedded in an earthen or concrete floor are especially susceptible. Termites particularly favor areas around furnaces, chimneys and hot water heaters and pipes that provide warmth during winter.
Many houses in Pennsylvania are unlikely to ever have termites because they are located in low-risk areas or are constructed to resist infestations. "The less suitable the site is for termites, the less likely a colony will become established and flourish," Jacobs says. He offers several structural control recommendations:
Remove all wooden debris from around the building. Replace wooden posts, steps, trellises and other structures that contact the soil with noncellulose materials or pressure-treated lumber.
Replace badly damaged timbers with sound materials. Where possible, don't allow wood within 18 inches of the soil.
Provide adequate ventilation and drainage for basements, cellars and crawl spaces.
Fill all visible cracks and voids in the foundation with concrete or caulking compound.
Reduce soil moisture around the structure by directing run-off away from the foundation. Be sure gutters and downspouts are installed and working correctly.