TERMITES

TERMITES VS ANTS

• Termites are often confused with ants
• The termite has straight beadlike antennae, while those of ants are elbowed
• The abdomen of the termite is broadly joined to the thorax (no waist), while the ant’s thorax and abdomen are joined by a narrow pedicel (wasp waist)
• Termite wings, both the front and the hindwings, are of equal size. The anterior wings of the ant are considerably larger than the posterior wings

Dampwood Termites

• Dampwood termites are found only in wood with high moisture content
• Dampwood termites do not usually infest structures because of the low moisture content of wood in structures
• Dampwoods are considered a minor structural pest, but they can do substantial damage if left unchecked
• Dampwood termites produce distinctive fecal pellets that are rounded at both ends, elongate, and lack the clear longitudinal ridges common to drywood termite pellets
• Dampwood fecal pellets are often stuck together along the bottom or sides of the tunnels or may dissolve into a muddy paste
• Infested wood usually shows no external damage because openings in the wood are plugged with fecal material
• They nest in wood buried in the ground, although contact with the ground is not necessary when infested wood is high in moisture

1.  Coptotermes spp.

• Coptotermes species is one of the most destructive termites in Asia
• In Malaysia and Singapore, Coptotermes spesies alone is responsible for at least 80-90% of damage to human built structures, based on past statistics, and it is the most common termite species in all urban areas
• They have a voracious appetite for anything wood or paper, and may even attack fabric
• Their nests are located deep underground
• They have a large and conspicuous fontanella
• They secrete a white, sticky liquid upon biting, through the fontanelle

2. Macrotermes spp.

• The Macrotermes genus are the largest termite species of all
• Most species of Macrotermes build mounds, although there are a few subterranean species
• Macrotermes species are noted for having two sizes of workers and two sizes of solders (major and minor workers and soldiers).
• The unique thing about Macrotermes termites is their fungus cultivation habit

3. Globitermes sulphureus

• Globitermes sulphureus is a species of termite that is very common in present in other areas of South East Asia, including Malaysia
• They live in nests made of earth that can be up to 1.5m tall and can contain tens of thousands of individuals
• Between 5% and 10% of the population are soldier termites which can be recognised by their yellow abdomen and two large, curved mandibles
• When the nest is damaged, the soldier termites defend the nest and workers rapidly repair any damage to the nest walls
• In some cases, the contractions are so violent that the termites rupture themselves. This form of suicidal altruism is known as autothysis

4. Microcerotermes spp.

• This species is 3.15-7.75mm long
• They have long rectangular heads and long fine mandibles that are finely serrated when viewed with a microscope
• Some species may build small mounds nest underground and some may make arboreal nests and nest on top of posts
• Their nesting habits (mounds, arboreal nests) often betray their presence and facilitate their control

5. Schedorhinotermes spp.

• The average length of this species of termite is 3-7mm long
• The major soldiers have bulbous heads.
• The minor soldiers are usually about two-thirds of the length of the major soldiers
• They have narrower heads and more slender mandibles with their labrums extend and almost to the tip of the mandibles
• This species of termite nest in root crown and lower trunk of living and dead trees

•  Mub Tubes
   

• Termite Swarmers
  
  

• Wood Damage

•  Termites Frass
  
    

•   Live Termites

•  Termite Mound
  

Residual Spraying

• Residual spraying with termiticide which act as a stomach and contact poison is apply with a liquid dilution of Premise along the foundation walls of your home to create a continuous treatment zone

Drenching

• Termite mound is destroyed by pouring solution of termiticide into the mound after breaking open the structure
• To facilitate good penetration, holes are made using crowbars

Pre-Construction Treatment (Soil Treatment)

• A traditional method for preventing subterranean termites from entering buildings within the first 5 to 10 years following construction
• The objective of applying a termiticide to soil is to provide an unbroken chemical barrier between the wood in the structure and termite colonies in the soil
• Thus, the insecticide must be applied thoroughly and uniformly to block all routes of termite entry
• Effective termite control usually requires specialized equipment and often 150 or more gallons of prepared termiticide solution per house,depending on size, basement, etc
• The most recent termiticides to be marketed are non-repellent to termites, but show delayed toxicity as termites forage through treated soil, which they do not avoid
• As termites penetrate the treated zone, they contact the active ingredient, which causes delayed mortality and also possibly allows the termites to be overcome by lethal microbes
• Furthermore, the toxicant is thought to be passed to nestmates through grooming activities and social food exchange (trophallaxis)

• Holes are drilled along the perimeter of the building and termiticide will be pumped inThe objective of this is to establish a termiticide barrier to prevent termites from entering the structures
• The distance between two holes is an extremely crucial factor to ensure a continuous chemical barrier beneath the house upon application
• If the distance between the holes is too wide apart, a gap will be present and this will allow termites to move up into the house
• Distance between two holes varies between 30 -65cm
• Distance between hole to wall perimeter varies between 5-20cm

Baiting

• A termite bait is usually a paper-, cardboard-, or sawdust-like material containing the active ingredient (or AI) that kills termites
• The bait is kept inside a plastic bait station. As termites feed on the bait, the termite-killing AI gets into their bodies
• The AI is spread through the colony as the termites feed each other. As more workers feed on the bait, more AI gets into the colony
• Eventually the amount of AI in each termite increases until it kills them and the colony dies or is reduced
• There are two types of bait stations: above-ground and in-ground
• Above-ground stations are installed directly over shelter tubes or infested wood so that termites can begin to feed immediately on the bait
• In-ground stations are placed in the soil
• Most stations are cylindrical tubes with disk tops. The disks makes the stations easier to find and keeps them from sinking into the ground
• The tubes have numerous holes or slits through which termites enter to get to the wood and bait inside