Know them better

Termites have been around for myriads of years. They are social insects and live in colonies which are usually located in the ground or in wood.  They are worldwide in distribution with about 2500 described species and about 50 species that are found in the USA.
Termites are usually divided into 3 groups based on the location of their colony:

• subterranean (eastern and western USA)
• drywood (western and southeastern USA)
• dampwood (California, Nevada desert, and Florida)

The biology and habits of each group are different, so a detailed knowledge of each is necessary for effective pest control.

Recognition: Three body regions - head, thorax and abdomen, broadly joined with no constrictions as found in ants. Antennae composed of a series of beadlike segments.

Workers: Creamy white with head slightly darker. No compound eyes present. Wings absent.

Soldiers: Creamy white except for dark and much-enlarged head. Head with large pair of mandibles except for Nasutitermitinae soldiers which lack mandibles and have head prolonged into a distinct snout. Compound eyes absent, but some with pigmented areas. Usually with a fontanelle (porelike onening to the frontal gland) on top of head. Wings absent.