Termites are among the most important structural insect pests in the Northwest. They feed on wood or wood products and convert the cellulose in wood into usable food.
There are two common species of termites in Washington state. They are the Pacific Dampwood Termite and the Western Subterranean Termite.
Dampwood Termite
The
Pacific Dampwood Termite is the largest and may exceed 1 inch in length including the wings. They are cream-colored to reddish
brown. The soldiers have a cream-colored body with a large reddish brown head and are approximately 3/4 inch long. The nymphs of the soldiers and reproductives are
white to cream-colored and are about 1/2 inch in length. Wet or dampwood is necessary for attack and establishment of these termites. These termites live and nest
in the wood which they feed and do not return to the soil like the subterranean termite. As colonies mature, they produce winged reproductives that leave the nest
in swarming flights, which normally occur in the late summer or early fall. Being moisture dependent, and thus hiding themselves well to prevent moisture loss,
termites are not easily observed.
Subterranean Termite
The
Subterranean Termite is much smaller than the dampwoods with the winged form being 3/8 inch long including the
wings. They are dark brown to black with light gray wings. The soldiers have a cream-colored head with black mandibles and a grayish white body. They are
approximately 1/4 inch long. The "worker" caste is grayish white and about 3/16 inch long. These termites live and nest in the soil which may originate near
buried stumps, logs or other sources of wood as much as 10-20 feet deep. The subterraneans often enter structures through cold joints between slab and
foundation walls, areas around plumbing, earth-filled slab porches and "tubing" up foundation walls where there is usually a wood source close to ground level.
Termite tubing provides protection from natural enemies and more important, from dehydration. Subterranean termites may swarm at any time of year but is
usually in the spring and fall, depending on weather conditions.
Control
Control of the Dampwood termite is most often achieved by replacing structurally unsound wood, eliminating moisture sources and any wood-soil ground contact. Treatments for subterraneans are done to establish a chemical barrier between the sub-soil nest and the home. The application of most termiticides is limited to soil injection, sub-slab injection and trenching. Treatment areas most often cover along foundation walls, around pier supports beneath raised concrete porches that are adjacent to foundation walls, and on occasion patio or garage slabs. This process generally cannot be performed by the homeowner and requires the expertise of a licensed professional.
If you suspect termite signs or activity, a technician of Long Pest Control would be happy to come out and inspect for infestations and make recommendations for necessary control procedures.
