General Information:
Termites are insects that feed on dry wood and wood products (furniture, door frames, kitchen cabinets, doors, windows frames, etc.) and most termite species build their nests in wood products with the exception of two species (which are common in Israel) that build their nest in the ground and the workers leave it to search for food.

Termites are special insects in relation to other insect types in that all termite species are social insects. Each nest has a king and queen (adults that can reproduce), soldiers and workers (which cannot reproduce) that their job is to protect the nest and handle all feeding and nest construction and maintenance respectively.

Entomologically, termites are closer to cockroaches than to ants although to many people termites look like “white ants”.

Locations:
Termites are common in many areas around the world, and especially in tropical and sub-tropical areas; they are less common in cooler areas. In Israel termites are common in many areas but mostly in the coastal area (Rishon Lezion, Ashdod, Ashkelon), the Negev and Jerusalem area.

Appearance:

• The king / queen are dark brown in color, they have wings (that fall off after mating) and a well-developed head with mandibles that can masticate and a pair of tentacles.
• The workers / soldiers are cream colored with a physical build similar to that of ants but divided into two parts (head and abdomen as oppose to head, chest and abdomen in ants). Their head is large and cylinder-like in shape (soldiers) or small and round (workers) and they have large mandibles (suitable for masticating dry wood).
• Termite population can reach 10,000 particulars per square meter (usually the number of particulars per square meter is 2,000-4,000).
• Australia has termite species that build huge nests that can reach a size of 6-7 meter in height and 2-3 meters in width wide, and contain millions of termites.
• These huge nest structures were studied by many researchers and the cooling and ventilation method of these nests were imitated and implemented in the construction of large buildings that have efficient ventilation systems with cost-effective electrical consumption.
• Termites themselves cannot digest the wood (cellulose) and they live symbiotically with bacteria that are able to decompose the cellulose. The termites feed on the decomposition materials.
• The queen is significantly larger than the king, workers and soldiers, and in some species it can reach a size of 13 centimeters long and 3.5 centimeters wide.
• The queen is a well-oiled egg laying machine and in some species it can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day over a period of 25 years.
• The workers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week non-stop and they live two years on average.

Lifecycle:
During the spring and autumn the adult males and females (kings and queens) leave the nest on a nuptial flight and at the end of it they mate and found a new nest in the ground. The termite lifecycle consists of egg, several nymph stages and adults. Their mating will yield three types of offspring: soldiers, workers and individual termites that will reach adulthood (future kings and queens).

Economic Significance:
Termites are responsible for major damage to a wide range of raw materials (wood) and finished products (furniture, doors, door frames, etc.). In the US alone termite damage is estimated at 800 million dollars. Termite control in significantly more expensive compared to other pest control due to their life style and method of extermination required to treat termites efficiently and effectively.

Method of Termite Control:
Proper termite control requires injection of a large amount of pesticide (1-2.5 liters meter) into the ground and if it is in a structure, then it is necessary to drill into the tiles every 0.3-0.5 meters and inject the pesticide to a depth of at least 30 centimeters (in the case of a private home or ground floor it must be done inside and outside).

Interesting Facts about Termites:

• Termite population can reach 10,000 particulars per square meter (usually the number of particulars per square meter is 2,000-4,000).
• Australia has termite species that build huge nests that can reach a size of 6-7 meter in height and 2-3 meters in width wide, and contain millions of termites.
• These huge nest structures were studied by many researchers and the cooling and ventilation method of these nests were imitated and implemented in the construction of large buildings that have efficient ventilation systems with cost-effective electrical consumption.
• Termites themselves cannot digest the wood (cellulose) and they live symbiotically with bacteria that are able to decompose the cellulose. The termites feed on the decomposition materials.
• The queen is significantly larger than the king, workers and soldiers, and in some species it can reach a size of 13 centimeters long and 3.5 centimeters wide.
• The queen is a well-oiled egg laying machine and in some species it can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day over a period of 25 years.
• The workers work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week non-stop and they live two years on average.

Contact Details

Juk Barosh

Elad Uri, Agronomist and Certified Exterminator

Exterminator License Num. 1803

If you have any question, please contact us at:

054-4603208; 050-2870048

juk1803@gmail.com

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