It's Getting to be Termite Season
Termites can be a serious problem for homeowners in Texas. Homeowners usually deal with subterranean termites, which typically swarm between February and April, depending on environmental conditions. Ants may also swarm during this time, so be able to tell the two apart. Termites have wide waists, straight antennae and wings of equal shape and size. Ants have pinched waists, bent antennae and hind wings that are smaller than the front wing.
Termites are social insects with a developed caste system where each caste has a particular duty. Swarmers and worker termites are most commonly seen. Swarmers are the reproductive caste of the colony and are responsible for mating and laying eggs. They emerge from the nest in the spring and fly into the air to locate a mate. Swarmers can be black to tan in color with pale wings. Workers are small, white and wingless. They handle the day-to-day tasks that keep the colony running. Workers feed and care for the young, groom the queen, maintain tunnels, and excavate the nest. Soldiers resemble workers, but have hardened head capsules with well developed mandibles. They are responsible for colony defense.
If you suspect that you have termites, you should contact a pest management professional. There are numerous treatment options, so make sure to get several bids from a variety of companies. Compare costs with the service that will be performed to make an educated decision.
For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600.
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