What are termites?
Termites are a kind of eusocial insects. Termites are usually small, measuring between 4 to 15 millimetres in length. Most worker and soldier termites are completely blind as they do not have a pair of eyes. the anatomy of the termite thorax consists of three segments: the prothorax, the mesothorax and the metathorax. Then, each segment contains a pair of legs and the wings are located at the mesothorax and metathorax. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material and cellulose, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil or animal dung. Termites are detritivores. Their recycling of wood and plant matter is of considerable ecological importance.
What does termites cause?
- do significant damage to unprotected buildings and other wooden structures.
- termites can be invaded homes because of human’s activities.
- can be transported through contaminated goods, containers and ships.
- termites can also damage food crops.
- Termites may attack trees whose resistance to damage is low but generally ignore fast-growing plants and most of the attacks occur at harvest time.
How to find out?
- inspect the blisters in wood flooring.
- found hollowed or damaged wood.
- found discarded termites wings.
- found pencil-sized mud tubes wherever the ground meets your house or any other possible food source like a tree or shed.
- found dry wood termite droppings.
Solution
First, take a couple flat strips of cardboard, wet them, and stack them on one another in an area where termites are likely to be. Then take out the cardboard which have been infested with termites and burn it in a safe place. Second, try beneficial nematodes. It was the natural parasites to garden pests, including termites. Purchase beneficial nematodes at local garden supply store or online. Then plant them in the early morning or after sunset, as UV light will harm them. Third, expose the furniture that infested with termites to sunlight. Termites thrive in darkness, and the heat and light from the sun will kill them. Forth, freeze the furniture that infested with termites. This method can guarantee the death of termites.
Prevention
First, examine crawlspaces and foundation beams by tapping on the wood to check for hollowness and to push the screwdriver into the wood to test for strength. Next, keep an eye out for termite droppings. Termite droppings are wood coloured or darker brown pellets of excrement. Then, find a termite nest on your property. a subterranean termite infestation will build a system of tunnels and tubes of mud, while a dry wood termite infestation will present itself in a nest inside the wood.
