The termite swarmers pair up during their flight then land and search for a place to begin a family. Their wings break off shortly after landing and the new king and queen start their colony by excavating a small chamber in a crevice or plot of soft soil. When the chamber is large enough, they crawl inside, seal the opening and mate. From this point on, they will spend the rest of their lives underground. The queen lays her first batch of (6-12) eggs within a few days or weeks of mating. Initially, the king and queen tend the young termites. However, as the queen¼s egg laying capacity increases, the older offspring begin to tend their younger siblings. The colony will now continue to grow with increasing numbers of termites being produced each year. The parental king and queen have the longest life span in the colony. They often survive for a decade or longer and can produce huge colonies with thousands of offspring.
The subterranean termite most commonly found in Virginia is the Eastern Subterranean termite, Reticultermes flavipes. Mature colonies (6-7 years old) of R. flavipes in Virginia have been estimated to contain more than 60,000 workers. These large subterranean termite colonies often become decentralized over time and occupy multiple nesting sites interconnected by a network of underground tunnels
Subterranean Termite Castes
Primary Reproductives
As described above, mature subterranean colonies, at certain times of the year, will produce large numbers of winged swarmers or "alates" that will eventually become king and queen termites. These royal termites are dark-colored and are the only caste with functional eyes. The swarmers lose their wings after a short flight where they select a mate. The new king termite remains virtually unchanged after losing his wings. However, as the new queen begins to produce eggs her abdomen grows larger with the development of her ovaries. As she stretches, the segments of her body pull farther apart showing the white membranes between the segments of her abdomen. This gives the queen a striped appearance. The eastern subterranean termite queen will stretch until she is about 14.5 mm in length. At this point she is an egg laying machine, producing over 500 offspring a year.
Queen
Secondary Reproductives
The termite colony originates from a single pair of reproductive swarmer termites, the king and queen. However, if the king or queen should die, other individuals within the colony will start to develop functional reproductive organs to take their place. These individuals are called secondary reproductives. Secondary reproductives are light in color but they are larger than workers and never develop wings. In mature colonies a secondary reproductive caste can develop even though there is still a producing queen present. When this happens the secondary reproductive caste members will produce the majority of the eggs, causing the colony to grow at a much faster rate. Although no individual secondary reproductive can produce as many eggs as the queen, several hundred of them may exist in a single colony thus producing thousands of eggs. Secondary reproductives may also develop in satellite nests where a group of workers have become separated from the parent colony. This splitting or budding of the nest expands the original colony's foraging territory.
Worker Caste
Subterranean termite workers are the caste found in infested wood. As in other termites species, the workers are responsible for all of the labor in the colony. They care for the young, repair the nest, build foraging tunnels, locate food, feed and groom the other castes and each other. The youngest termite workers perform the tasks inside the colony like feeding, grooming and caring for the young, while the older more expendable workers take on the hazardous jobs of foraging and nest building. The termite workers are both male and female but they are functionally sterile. They are milky white in color and have no wings or eyes. The body of the termite worker is soft, but its mouthparts are very hard and adapted for chewing wood.
Worker
Soldier Caste Subterranean termite soldiers are the defenders of the colony. They protect the colony against marauding ants and foreign termites. When foraging tubes or galleries are broken into the soldiers congregate around the break to stand guard against invaders. Soldiers are similar to the termite workers in that they are blind, soft-bodied and wingless. However, the soldiers have an enlarged, hard, yellowish-brown head which has been modified for defense. The head has a pair of very large mandibles or jaws that are made to puncture, slice and kill enemies (primarily ants). However, the large mandibles prevent the soldiers from feeding themselves, so they must rely on the workers for food.
Soldier
It is not known exactly how subterranean termites locate sources of food. It is thought that the termites forage by digging a network of tunnels and come in contact with food sources in the process. The foraging range of a single termite colony is difficult to predict. Some larger colonies may forage over areas the size of a football field. However, depending on the season or weather, they may not forage over their entire range at all times. Also, several smaller colonies may cover a greater foraging distance than one large colony.
Swarm Tubes
Foraging termites produce a variety of chemicals called pheromones that influence their behavior. These pheromones are basically odors that send messages to other termites in the colony. While tunneling underground, the foraging termites lay down a trail of pheromone which they secrete from glands on their abdomen. When a food source is located, the odor trail is intensified to recruit other termites to the feeding site. However, the intensity of the recruitment effort (odor trail) is influenced by soil temperature, moisture and compaction as well as the size and quality of the food source.
Utility Tubes
Subterranean termites also forage above ground for sources of cellulosic food like wood in homes and other structures. In order to protect themselves from predation by ants and maintain their connection to the soil while searching for food above ground, termites build long tubes out of mud and fecal material. These mud tubes are called exploratory tubes. Termite exploratory tubes are very easy to see and are one of the best ways to identify a potential termite infestation. Once a source of wood has been located, the termites establish more permanent utility or working tubes. The utility tubes are highways running from the underground termite galleries directly to the food source. Utility tubes can cover long distances over the foundation of a building or along exterior walls to reach the wood inside. Sometimes subterranean termites build another tube that runs from the structural wood back down to the ground. These tubes are called drop or suspended tubes. Drop tubes are often lighter in color than the utility tubes because they contain more of the wood fiber taken from the structure. Subterranean termites construct a fourth type of mud tube in addition to those that facilitate foraging. These are called swarming tubes. Swarming tubes are built seasonally extending only 4-8 inches above ground. These tubes provide the exit port for winged swarmers leaving the colony.
Subterranean termites are constantly at risk of drying out; this is why they must live in the soil. Soil has the capacity to hold water for a long period of time and keep the colony moist. When termites forage above ground, they must maintain their connection to the soil so that the workers and soldiers can return periodically to replenish their body moisture. The mud tubes provide the termites with this soil connection. If a tube becomes damaged, the worker termites will labor desperately to repair it. If the tube is beyond repair, the termites located above ground will often die of dehydration. However, on some occasions subterranean termite colonies do become established above ground. These above ground infestations are almost exclusively found in structures with chronic moisture problems. Chronic problems include flat roofs where dead leaves and moisture have been allowed to accumulate, leaking pipes or areas with no ventilation. In such cases the colony can survive above ground indefinitely.
Although subterranean termites can chew through and damage many materials, they can only obtain nutrition from cellulose. However, subterranean termites cannot digest cellulose on their own. In order to digest wood, subterranean termites have large numbers of microorganisms in their gut that convert the wood fiber into usable nutrients. If there were no microorganisms in the gut, the termite could eat constantly but still die of starvation. In the colony most food is shared mouth to mouth (a process called trophallaxis). Foraging worker termites feed directly on wood or other cellulose material then store the food in their gut. They then return to the nest and feed the immature termites, soldiers, and reproductives.
Immature termites are unique in their nutritional needs because like all juvenile insects they must periodically shed their skin (exoskeleton) in order to grow (molting). When they do this they also shed the lining of their hindgut where the wood-digesting microorganisms live. After molting the termites no longer have their microorganisms and are unable to digest food. In order to replenish their microorganism supply, the young termites feed on fluids (which contain the microorganisms) excreted from the hindgut of older termites. This delicious practice of feeding from a nest mate's anus is called proctodeal feeding. Although it may sound disgusting, proctodeal feeding is essential for the survival of the termite colony.
Swarming is the termite method of dispersal and establishing new colonies. Subterranean swarmers emerge from the colonies at certain times of the year when conditions are suitable. Peak swarming season for the subterranean termites in Virginia is from March through June. The eastern subterranean termite, R. flavipes, usually swarms in the spring (March-May) during the daylight hours on warm days following a rain. Subterranean termite swarmers are attracted to light so if they emerge indoors they will be seen flying to windowsills and open doors. Usually, termite swarming either indoors or outside is the first indication to homeowners that they have a subterranean termite infestation.
Potter, M. F. Termites, pp. 232-333. In S. A Hedges and D. Moreland [eds.], Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, eighth edition. Mallis Handbook and Technical Training Company. 1997.
POWDERPOST BEETLES Keokee, VA:Picture of a floor joist severely damaged by powder post beetles
Introduction. Anobiid powderpost beetles or furniture beetles are the most commonly encountered of the
powderpost beetles. They get their common name of anobiids from the beetle family to which they belong.
The name furniture beetle was deserved in a time when these insects could be found infesting tables, chairs,
cabinets, benches and bed headboards and footboards made of pine, poplar and other soft wood types. For
some species, the name of deathwatch beetle comes from the tapping sound they make by striking their
mandibles (jaws) against the wood surface of their tunnel as a mating call. Heard in the quiet of the night when
people were sitting up with an ill person, this tapping was superstitiously believed to indicate that death was
near. They are worldwide in distribution, with about 310 species occurring in the United States.
Recognition. Depending on the species, adult anobiid powderpost beetles measure 1/16 to 3/8 inch long but
those attacking buildings range from 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. They are usually elongate, cylindrical and reddishbrown
to nearly black in color. The prothorax (front upper part of the thorax) is hoodlike, nearly always
enclosing the head and concealing it when viewed from above. Structure-infesting species usually have distinct
rows of pits on the elytra (hardened front wings or wing covers) giving their surface a ridged appearance.
Mature larvae of anobiid powderpost beetles range from 3/16 to about 1/2 inch long. They are nearly white in
color, C-shaped in form but have the thorax enlarged. They have 3 pairs of tiny legs.
Similar Beetles. True powderpost beetles (family Lyctidae) have the body flattened and head visible from
above. As a rule they are smaller and narrower than anobiids.
Damage and Signs of Infestation. The beetle exit holes are round and, depending on the species, range from
1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter. Another indication of an infestation is the accumulation of piles of powdery but
gritty frass (fecal material) beneath the exit holes or streaming from them. However, there are 2 anobiid
species, which attack hardwoods that do not produce pellets in their frass; but their frass is tightly packed in
their tunnels (vs. lyctids whose frass is loosely packed).
Representative Species.
1. Furniture beetle, Anobium punctatum, adults are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, reddish-brown to dark
brown and covered with fine yellowish hairs. The elytra (hardend front wings or wing covers)
are sculptural with striae (longitudinal furrows). These beetles attack only old wood and are
widely distributed.
2. Deathwatch beetle, Xestobium rufovillosum, adults are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, dark grayish-brown,
mottled with patches of pale hairs, and have elytra (wing covers) without striae (longitudinal
furrows). They attack wood softened by fungal deterioration and are primarily found in the
eastern United States but not common.
3. Eastern deathwatch beetle, Hemicoelus carinatus, adults are elongate, 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, and
reddish to blackish-brown with shallow elytral striae (longitudinal furrows). They attack both
new and old wood and are widely distributed in the eastern United States.
4. Broad-diet anobiid powderpost beetle, Euvrilletta peltatus (formerly Xyletinus peltatus), adults
are 1/8 to 1/4 inch long, brown, covered with fine yellowish hairs, and have elytra (wing covers)
with fine shallow striae (longitudinal furrows). These beetles attack new and old wood of both
soft and hard consistency and are widely distributed throughout the eastern United States.
Biology. Female anobiid beetles lay their eggs (usually 20 to 60: maximum 121) on wood under surface
splinters, in cracks, or in old exit holes. After hatching, the larvae bore straight into the wood for a short
distance, and then make a right-angle turn and bore with the wood grain. As they bore, the larvae pack their
frass and fine wood fragments into the tunnel behind them. If a softwood (conifer/evergreen) is being attacked,
this loosely packed mixture feels gritty due to the lemon or bun-shaped fecal pellets whereas, if a hardwood
(broadleaf tree) is being attacked, this mixture is tightly packed and does not feel gritty. Each time the larva
molts, the tunnel is made larger in diameter. When larval development is completed, the immediate tunnel is
often enlarged for pupation. When the adult is ready to emerge, it bores straight to the wood’s surface and
exits. In other species, the mature larva bores almost to the wood surface and creates its pupal chamber there;
when the adult is ready to emerge, it chews through the thin outer surface and exits. Adults usually emerge in
the spring or early summer and do not feed, but actively seek a mate. Under very favorable conditions,
developmental time (egg to adult) may require only 1 year, but it usually requires 2 to 3 years indoors and
sometimes longer. Although most anobiids are strong fliers, females tend to lay their eggs on the wood from
which they emerged. Based upon those studied, anobiids can digest wood cellulose with the aid of yeast cells in
their digestive tracts; lyctid powderpost beetles cannot digest cellulose.
Habits. Anobiid powderpost beetles attack both softwoods and hardwoods, and mostly the sapwood. They
attack structural timbers, lumber, and manufactured products. In structures, only wood older than 9 to 10 years
is attacked; however, Euvrilletta peltatus will also attack freshly seasoned wood. The wood moisture content
required for beetle development is 13 to 30%. Because of this high moisture requirement, they are a major
problem in the southeastern states, especially in crawlspace type construction, and in coastal states where the
relative humidity is high and it is warm. Adults are active only at night and those of some species are attracted
to light while others are not.
The larval and adult activity varies considerably during the year based primarily on beetle biology and wood
moisture content. For Euvrilletta peltatus, probably the most destructive species in the east, this activity can be
summarized as follows:
1
. December-January-February: Larvae are inactive; no new frass or exit holes.
2. March-April-May: Larvae resume feeding during March and feed for 1 to 2 months. New exit
holes and adults are present by mid-May.
3. June-July-August: New exit holes and adults are present. The number of adults may start to
decrease during June.
4. September-October-November: Usually no visible signs of activity but larvae are feeding within
wood; larval chewing cannot be heard.
Cultural Control & Preventative Measures. The easiest way to prevent infestation of buildings and wood
furnishings by anobiid powderpost beetles is to thoroughly inspect old wood items for signs of beetle damage
(such as 1/16 to 1/8 inch diameter holes expelling powdery and coarse frass) before bringing them inside. This
includes antique furniture, barn wood (e.g., beams and siding intended for use as rustic mantles for fireplaces
and paneling for a recreation room). If old barn wood is desirable for a rustic decor, it should first be treated by
a pest management professional
AMERICAN COCKROACH
Facts:
Did you Know: Cockroaches can bite feebly, sometimes gnawing the fingernails of sleeping children.
Did you Know: Cockroaches can live even up to nine days without their heads before they starve to death.
Did you Know: Cockroaches carry over forty different pathogens, which could potentially be transfered to humans. These include Plague, Pneumonia, Thyphoid fever, Polio,Hepatitis and many more
American Cockroach Blattaria: Blattidae, Periplaneta americana SIZE: American cockroach adults are 1 and 1/2 inches long (38mm)
COLOR: American cockroaches are reddish brown and have a yellowish margin on the body region behind the head.
DESCRIPTION: When disturbed, may run rapidly and adults may fly. Immature cockroaches resemble adults except that they are wingless.
HABITAT: American cockroaches generally live in moist areas, but can survive in dry areas if they have access to water. They prefer warm temperatures around 84 degrees Fahrenheit and do not tolerate cold temperatures. In residential areas, these cockroaches live in basements and sewers, and may move outdoors into yards during warm weather. These cockroaches are common in basements, crawl spaces, cracks and crevices of porches, foundations, and walkways adjacent to buildings. They feed on a wide variety of plant and animal material.
LIFE CYCLE: Females produce egg cases and carry them protruding from the tip of the abdomen for about two days. Egg cases are then generally placed on a surface in a hidden location. Egg cases are 3/8 inch long, brown, and purse shaped. Immature cockroaches emerge from egg cases in 6 to 8 weeks and require 6 to 12 months to mature. Adult cockroaches can live up to one year, during which females produce an average of 150 young.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: Not common in the home.
CONTROL: Due to the large size and slow development of American cockroaches, large infestations of these insects are not common within houses. However, during certain times of the year, these cockroaches may move inside a house from outside sources. For example, in winter these cockroaches may move indoors, seeking warmer temperatures and food. Cockroaches may enter houses via sewer connections, under doors, around utility pipes, air ducts, or other openings in the foundation. Exclusion is one way to control this inward movement of cockroaches. Place fine mesh screening over crawl space vents and basement floor drains. Seal exterior doors with weather stripping. Fill gaps in walls and floors where pipes enter using steel wool and/or caulking compounds. Cockroach populations in basements can be reduced by decreasing dampness and applying insecticides in cracks and crevices where there is evidence of cockroach activity (presence of egg cases, dead cockroaches, brown fecal smears).
Cockroach populations around the perimeter of houses are more difficult to control. First, limit the availability of food and water. Place garbage in trash cans, not plastic bags (plastic bags rip easily). Divert water from gutters at least 3 feet away from the foundation. Secondly, reduce hiding places for the cockroaches. Do not stack firewood or debris next to the foundation. Make a visual inspection about one to two hours after sunset to locate cracks and crevices in the building from which cockroaches are emerging. Spray these areas with insecticide and seal the cracks and crevices if possible.
INTERESTING FACTS: American cockroaches are the largest of the common roaches.
Origin: There are a wide variety of these ants that are native to North America. Many of these ant varieties will enter your home and attack the framework of the structure.
Biology: Carpenter Ants tend to habit wood that is either slightly buried in the ground or fully buried. They can also create colonies that maintain themselves within the structure. These colonies are called "satellite". Once a "satellite" colony is established, the ants will communicate between both the main colony and the "satellite" colony. Carpenter Ants will have a single queen, however, there are sometimes auxiliary queens to help run things. A typical size colony will contain about 15,000 workers, however, a colony could reach 100,000. Their food consists of carbs and protein. They are able to bite but do not have a stinger. These ants only nest in wood timbers. They do not actually eat wood. Carpenter Ants do vary in size.
Identification: Carpenter Ants differ in color. They can range from tan to black, red to orange or combinations of red and black. Workers, mentioned, vary in size. Typically, they are six to thirteen millimeter in length.