Subterranean Termites

APPEARANCE:
The workers, which are about 1/8 inch long, have no wings, are white to cream colored and very numerous. Soldiers are wingless and white in color with large brown heads and mandibles (jaws). King and queen termites are dark brown to black in color and have two pairs of wings about twice the length of their body.

HABITAT:
Subterranean Termites live in colonies underground, from which they build tunnels in search of food. They are able to reach food above the ground level by building mud tubes.

DIET:
Subterranean termites feed on wood or other items that contain cellulose, such as paper, fiberboard, and some fabrics derived from cotton or plant fibers. Termites have protozoa in their digestive tracts that can convert cellulose into usable food.

LIFE CYCLE/REPRODUCTION:
King and queen termites perform the reproductive functions of the colony. Different rates of growth from egg stage to adult depending on individual species; one queen per colony, which can lay tens of thousands of eggs in its lifetime, but most eggs arelaid by supplementary reproductives in an established colony. Colonies can contain up to 1 million members.

TYPES OF DAMAGE:
Subterranean termites cause 95% of all termite damage in North America. Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. They cause more than $2 billion in damage each year, more property damage than that caused by fire and windstorm combined.

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