Your first priority should be to address moisture issues. Control can also be achieved by making structural changes, such as replacing damp, infested wood. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies to analyze website traffic and improve your experience on our website. Learn more about the types of cookies we use by reviewing our updated Privacy Policy. Dampwood Termites Family Termopsidae. Once established, dampwood termite activity expands into sound wood and relatively dry wood.
They prefer to work upwards, infesting homes from the foundation to the roof rafters. Dampwood termites hide themselves to prevent moisture loss and are difficult to detect. The most obvious sign of termite activity in the home is the presence of winged termite swarmers, which look like flying ants. Swarmers are usually active on warm evenings in summer or fall, especially after a rain.
Removal of the infested wood or furniture is the quickest and easiest way to handle a localized infestation. Small pieces of wood containing live termites can be soaked in soapy water to kill the insects.
Larger pieces can be taken to a landfill or natural area where the decomposing abilities of the termites are helpful. After hours calls will be returned the next business day. Rated 3. See Our Reviews Contact Us. Habits Dampwood termites can cause serious damage, especially in association with decayed wood.
Infest wood with high moisture content and eat across the grain of wood, leaving wood looking smooth and clean. Optigard Flex Insecticide. Premise Foam. D-Foam Deltamethrin. Alpine Ant And Termite Foam. Timbor Professional Wood Treatment. Premise 2 Concentrate. Termidor SC Concentrate. Solo Wall Insecticide Foamer. BoraCare Wood Treatment. Stainless Steel Needle Injector. Graphic by Rudolf H.
Colonies of dampwood termites consist of three primary castes: the reproductives king, queen, and unmated winged forms called alates , soldiers, and false workers or pseudergates. Neotermes pseudergates are immature forms without external signs of wings. When wing buds become visible after molting, they are called nymphs. The pseudergates and nymphs excavate and feed on wood to nourish themselves and their nestmates.
Eggs and newly hatched termites, called larvae, are usually found near the king and queen. Figure 3. Neotermes fore wings. Photograph by Rudolf H.
A month or two before dispersal flights, nymphs with long wing buds appear and gradually molt into alates. Neotermes alates are large and have two pairs of wings that are lightly creased along their vein paths. Fore wings and hind wings are about equal in size and shape. Each fore wing has five pigmented and enlarged veins costal margin, subcosta, radius, radial sector, and median near where they attach to the body.
The enlarged median vein distinguishes Neotermes alates from all other termites in Florida. Figure 4. Neotermes jouteli Banks alate and alates of two drywood termite species found in Florida, Incisitermes snyderi and C ryptotermes brevis. The following key can be used to further distinguish alates of the three species of Neotermes found in Florida:.
Head and pronotum sparsely covered with long ca. Head and pronotum sparsely covered with short ca. Length with wings mm; head width at eyes 1. Neotermes soldiers from the same colony can differ substantially in size, but all are large 8.
They differ from other termites in Florida in that their pronotum is as wide as the head and, at the same time, the width of the pronotum is much greater than its length. The following key can be used to further distinguish soldiers of the three species of Neotermes found in Florida:. Figure 5. Neotermes castaneus Burmeister soldier. Eye facets unpigmented; third antennal article not clavate, similar to second and fourth see photograph. Eye facets darkly pigmented or faintly darkened; third antennal article clavate, longer than second or fourth see photograph.
Antennal carinae rugose and markedly protruded; eyes elongate, without satellite facets; setae on basal mandibular humps distinct see photograph. Antennal carinae smooth and only moderately protruded; eyes subcircular, with satellite facets; setae on basal mandibular humps vestigial or absent see photograph. As with most other members in the termite family Kalotermitidae, species of Neotermes build networks of galleries that meander through the wood in which they are hidden.
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