Drywood Termites

Drywood Termites can be classified as a group of social insects that live in dry woods. They usually act as the biological decomposers of dry woods that gather on the soil. These wood materials that are broken down will later turn to humus soil. These termites cause the most noticeable damages to abandoned woods while their destructions are only noticed when the damages have been done.

Drywood Termites feed on wood grains, hence they can destroy both the soft and dry woods. They are subdivided into two namely; The winged reproductive Drywood Termites and the Wingless non reproductive termites. Drywood Termites can measure as much as 16 inches in length. Drywood Termites can also be sub divided into three; The Reproductive Alates, The soldiers, and the workers. The wingless immature Drywood Termites usually take up the role of workers. They search for food and build new homes for the termite colony. The soldiers have large brownish heads with poisonous mandible jaws that they use to fight off invaders and protect the colony.

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Subterranean Termites have been described as the most destructive Termites in the United States in recent years, causing damages worth several billions of dollars to wood. They can be found in the soil as well as wood that have been in contact with the soil for some time. Subterranean Termites attack woods by building tube-like structures in their nests on the walls. The Subterranean Termites are similar to other types of termites in colony composition: The reproductives, the workers, and the soldiers. The king and the queen mate and perform the reproductive functions of the colony while the soldiers protect the colony.

Subterranean Termites are black or darn Brown in color and their wings are twice as long as their bodies. Subterranean Termites do not feed on wood alone. They feed on all cellulose containing substances such as papers, plant fiber and fiber boards. The Protozoa micro organisms found in the digestive systems of Subterranean Termites can break down the cellulose and covert them to food.

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It is a little confusing to differentiate termites vs ants, which almost look like termites. Even they are sometimes by mistake called as flying ants. It is easy to identify because both of these leave their underground nests in huge numbers, as in swarming, when building new colonies. Also, these flying ants swarm in the same manner as the termites in the reproductive stage.

To separate one from the other, we can notice carefully their antennae, waist and wings. The ant’s antennae are turned like elbow while the termite’s antennae are not so. Also, the ant’s waist is not broad as much as of termite. And also the ant’s wings have less veins than the termite’s.

Read more: What do termites look like?