Common Questions
Myths vs Facts
Anatomy of a Colony
Male and female alates find each other during a swarm, form a pair, dig a hole, and disappear forever below ground to form their own kingdom, never to see daylight again. The new king and queen termites mate and the colony begins.
Once the king impregnates the queen, she is fertile for life and may live 20+ years. The queen is constantly groomed and fed while she is birthing eggs 24/7.
Termites do not sleep. A colony can have 2,500 on up to several million termites. Though colonies grow year after year, by 3-6 years a colony is considered mature and capable of producing a swarm of alates. When a colony has reached maturity, significant damage to a home is possible.
Each termite fits into what is called a "caste" meaning each termite has a specific role and body composition that aids the health and growth of the colony.

Reproductives
This caste is the royal family of the colony. King and Queen are joined by alates and secondary reproductives at the right time of the year winged alates will crawl above ground to swarm and start colonies of their own. Secondary reproductives are like alates that never swarmed. They live in the queen's shadow, capable of reproducing, but would only do so if the queen dies or the colony desires to expand to a semi-connected satellite location. Reproductives live 10+ years.

Soldiers
The primary function of soldiers is protection of the colony. In a subterranean termite colony they make up about 5% of the total colony size. They cannot damage wood and must be fed by the workers in the colony. Soldier termites have dramatically enlarged heads and large mandibles. These jaws are useful in combat with other insects, but termite warriors are incapable of feeding themselves. Soldiers live 1-2 years.

Workers
The workers within the colony make up the vast majority of the colony and are the ones that cause the damage. Workers bite off tiny pieces of wood and have special protozoa in the gut that allows them to break down cellulose into a food source for the colony. Workers are responsible for feeding the entire colony including the queen through trophallaxis. Workers are responsible for constantly constructing tunnels and chambers, gathering food storage, and feeding and grooming other termite castes. Workers live 1-2 years.

Regeneration?
Reasearch has indicated that castes in the termite life cycle are not rigidly set. Termites belonging to one caste may develop into another caste if the colony requires (i.e. a worker termite may become a soldier or a reproductive if the colony experiences a shortage of one or the other).
Three Main Species That Threaten Residential Structures in the US:
Drywood Termites
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Subterranean Termites
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Formosan Termites
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Other Wood Destroying Insects
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Treatments
In the vast majority of cases, new homes receive a termite treatment during construction that lasts anywhere from 6 months to 5 years, depending on application procedures, product quality, and environmental factors. For dry wood termite control, tenting and fumigating a structure is the most common treatment.
Takeaways
If You Don't Have Termites
- Determine whether you have any termite warranties from previous treatments (perhaps during construction on a new home)
- Remove any conductive conditions
- All 'wood-to-soil' contacts which may include wood piles wood siding, support beams, and any other structural timbers of a home
- Plants or mulch from contact with the foundation or exterior walls
- Ensure that foundation is exposed and visible
- Prevent or resolve any moisture issues in the home or crawlspace
- Ensure that water properly drains away from the foundation.
- Repair damaged wood
- Inspect any 'problem areas' regularly - looking for mud tubes, swarmers, or wood damage
- Get a (free) professional inspection each year - many termite professionals will provide an inspection at no charge, just be careful they do not try to sell you something you don't need.
- If desired, preventive treatments can be made to the soil
If You Do Have Termites
Say calm, termites aren't an immediate threat unless the building is literally on the verge of collapse, which is quite rare. Termites do not bit humans or transfer diseases.
- Get quotes and hire a professional
- look for reviews
- discuss with neighbors
- Ask hard questions about pricing and warranties
It rarely hurts to get a second opinion. Get all of the facts and details straight before you authorize any work!
SOURCES
www.pestworld.org
www.npma.org
www.entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures
www.extension.entm.purdue.edu/publications/E-4.pdf
www.ohioonline.osu.edu/lines/pests.html
www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/index.html
www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/444/444-502/444-502.html
www.orkin.com/termites
www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/termites/termite.html
www.web.ncsu.edu/abstract/science/wms-termites
www.termites101.org/termite-basics/termites-by-region
www.nws.noaa.gov/hic
www.wikipedia.org
www.city-data.com
www.masseyservices.com/tag/termite-damage