Termites
They are insects belonging to the order Isoptera. They are often confused with ants due to their similarity and social behavior, which is why they are also called ’white ants.“ Their main food is wood.
Their colonies consist of different groups of individuals: workers, soldiers and reproductives. They live in warm regions such as the savannas of Africa, South America and southern Europe.
In Europe, 12 different species of termites have been recorded, while in Greece three species are found: Calotermes flavicollis, Reticulitermes balkanensis and Reticulitermes urbis.
The differences with ants
A key difference lies in their body structure. Termites have a one-piece body with a small constriction between the thorax and abdomen, unlike ants which have a thin stalk connecting the two segments.
Additionally, termite antennae are straight, while ants' antennae are angled. Termite bodies tend to be light-colored and soft, in contrast to the hard, dark bodies of ants.
Regarding their life cycle, termites undergo incomplete metamorphosis, passing through the egg, pupa, and adult stages, while ants undergo complete metamorphosis, with the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages.
Finally, in termites the front and rear wings are the same size, while in ants the front ones are larger than the rear ones.
Morphological characteristics of adults
Termites are polymorphic. Sterile workers (females and males), sterile soldiers (females and males) and reproductive individuals have much in common. The body is soft, white, only the head is partly or completely amber in color.
Two filamentous antennae arise from the head. The compound eyes may be very simple and ocelli may be absent. The mouthparts are of the masticatory type. In the sterile castes they are more imposing.
The legs have long hips and the tarsals in almost all families are quadripartite.
The abdomen consists of ten rings and with a few exceptions ends in a pair of cerci. The cerci have only a few segments. External genitalia are usually absent.
Reproductive individuals
In most species there is only one queen and one king per society.
In primitive species, there may be more than one pair of kings.
Their eyes and often their wings are atrophic.
Mature reproductive individuals have four membranous wings. These have a thin slit at the base, where the wings break when they are shed. They are richly nervated with many transverse veins.
Their exoskeleton is harder than other castes. The queen in many species can develop a huge belly over the years compared to the other individuals.
The soldiers
Soldiers are easily identified by the shape of their heads. The head is hard and can exceed half the length of the entire body.
In primitive species, the upper jaws are very large and are intended for biting. For this purpose, they may not be symmetrical and close very quickly.
In other species they may be long and thin and function as tweezers.
In other species, enemies are repelled not by biting, but by secretions from a large gland on the head, which are repellent or poisonous or sticky. The glue in some species can be secreted under pressure and "spitted" at the enemy.
Biology
First-stage larvae lack hard mouthparts, which would allow them to chew food, but the mouthparts remain soft and white. For this reason, they are also called "white nymphs".
The white nymphs are very small and remain close to the eggs. Compared to other insects, they are like "the result of early hatching.".
The workers feed them with special food, which they prepare in their mouths (trophalaxis).
Where do they live?
Isoptera live secretly in the ground or wood, avoiding air currents and sunlight.
Their nests (colonies) are either underground or above ground.
What do they eat?
Only workers can feed themselves. Other castes and nymphs must obtain food, usually from workers. This food contains saliva and digestive substances. It is delivered by mouth to mouth or from seat to mouth (Trophalaxy).
As a rule, workers feed on wood, but we also encounter specialization in other foods of plant origin, dry grasses, fungi, leaves, soil with plant residues, and manure from herbivores.
For this reason, symbiotic microorganisms are needed, which break down cellulose.
Social organization
At the most advanced levels, the differentiation of castes and their role in society is great.
The structure of the colony becomes extremely complex.
The colony may be completely or partially underground, or even on trees.
Colony systems are even observed.
The construction material of the colony varies and is generally very durable.
There are colonies that can be inhabited for over a hundred years.
There are separate areas for the queen, nurseries, rooms for droppings, food storage, for growing fungi, a ventilation system, and stabilization of temperature (homeostasis), humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. .
The number of individuals per society is generally smaller than in less evolved species.
Reproduction
New reproductive insects leave the colonies at the same time, forming swarms.
They perform flights that allow individuals from different colonies to contact each other, the geographical expansion of the species, and the establishment of new colonies.
After flight, insects shed their wings and begin looking for a mate.
A period of a few minutes follows, during which the female leaves in a chaotic zigzag pattern and the male follows with his head directly at the posterior edge of the female's abdomen.
Subterranean termites
Their colonies are smaller than those of subterranean termites and live exclusively in dry, healthy wood. They do not need contact with the ground.
The establishment of these termites in homes usually occurs when the swarmers enter through open (without a protective screen) air vents on roofs or in foundations, cracks in exterior walls such as around window frames, attics, skirting boards and ceiling coverings.
They attack the wood, leaving its outer surface intact. The only sign of infestation is small piles of small, seed-like excrement, which the termites excrete through temporary tunnels.
Drywood termites
Their colonies are smaller than those of subterranean termites and live exclusively in dry, healthy wood. They do not need contact with the ground.
The establishment of these termites in homes usually occurs when the swarmers enter through open (without a protective screen) air vents on roofs or in foundations, cracks in exterior walls such as around window frames, attics, skirting boards and ceiling coverings.
They attack the wood, leaving its outer surface intact. The only sign of infestation is small piles of small, seed-like excrement, which the termites excrete through temporary tunnels.
Wet wood termites
They attack wood with high moisture content.
They are noticeably larger than the underground ones. The colonies are located inside the wood without usually requiring contact with the ground.
They are observed on fallen tree trunks or stakes with wet or rotting wood in contact with moist soil and in construction sites with moisture leakage.
Termite Damage
Isoptera destroy books, PPC and OTE poles, railway sleepers and building foundations, window frames, floors, furniture, etc., as long as they are made of wood.
Treatment
The biggest danger with termites is that they live secretly and as a rule the damage is only noticed when it is too late.
Particular attention is required for the discovery of galleries and their destruction.
The method of control depends on the lifestyle of the species.
Subterranean termites
Combating subterranean termites is very difficult.
It is recommended to apply soil insecticides with great care.
In Greece there is a recently approved insecticide.
A barrier of termite killer or a monitoring system with baits is created around the perimeter of the residence between the colony and the wooden structures, while simultaneously neutralizing sources of moisture.
The foundations of the wall or wooden structure are searched for by digging, followed by an injection of termiteicide into these areas and into the soil in contact with the foundation.
The holes created are carefully closed with cement.
Drywood termites
For drywood termites, if there is a large spread of the infestation or difficulty in approaching it in another way, it is recommended:
fumigation of the building or objects with a fumigant insecticide,
local intervention in isolated or accessible lesions
or replacement of the affected parts.
Wet wood termites
For wet wood termites, you must:
attempt to eliminate sources of moisture,
removal of wooden parts that come into contact with the ground,
replacement and disinfestation of the affected wood with injections of residual termiticide.
