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Termites

 Did You Know...

Worldwide, there are over 2,200 species of termites. In the United States, 500,000 homes are treated for termites each year at a cost of over $1 billion.

 Subterranean and dampwood termites are responsible for the most of the damage to wooden buildings in the Pacific Northwest.

Termites are nature's recyclers, breaking down and returning to the soil the cellulose-containing materials of fallen trees and decaying wood. Termites derive nutrition from wood and other cellulose materials. They cannot digest the cellulose themselves. Instead they are dependent on one-celled protozoa in their stomachs that break down the cellulose into simpler compounds that the termites can use as food.

Termites colonies are complex social organizations. A colony typically contains several castes including workers, soldiers and reproductives. Each caste has a precisely defined role within the colony.

Subterranean termites need warm, moist conditions to survive. The colony lives underground in the soil. Mud and excrement tubes connect underground tunnels with above ground wooden structures where the termites go to feed. They cannot survive for long without regular contact with moisture. If a source of water is available within a structure, a secondary nest can be established and this is where real structural damage can begin.

Dampwood termites are the most common termite in the Northwest. They nest in damp or water-damaged wood but can expand their activities into dry, sound wood. They cannot survive without access to moisture.