Three different types of termites are found in The United States including; Subteranean, Formosan, and Drywood. Among these three, all types are usually found in Southeast Texas, although the most common is the Subteranean.
Subterranean termites nest in the soil, from which they obtain most of their moisture, and feed on any wood in contact with the soil. To reach wood that is separated from the soil, these termites must build a connecting mud tube or tunnel. Because subterranean termites rely on soil moisture, they're affected by soil types. In clay soils, moisture is not as readily available because it is tightly bound to the soil particles. Sandy soils have more available moisture. Consequently, subterranean termites are generally more prevalent and more able to survive in sandy soils. Fungi in wood are another source of moisture.
Wood is made primarily of cellulose, which few animals are able to break down into usable nutrients. The termite has protozoa and bacteria in its hindgut that digest the cellulose. Without these protozoa, a termite will eventually starve to death.
Termites live in highly organized societies, or colonies, with the individuals dirrerentiated into three forms, called castes: workers, soldiers and reproductives. Each caste is specialized for certain jobs or functions.
Workers
Workers are by far the most numerous members in the colony. They are creamy white, wingless, eyeless an dsoft bodied, with chiwing mouthparts. In primitive families, young nymphs may exist instead of a true worker caste. In either case, this group performs the actual work of the colony: building and repair of the nest, foraging, and feeding and grooming of the other castes. The workers find and eat wood, maintain galleries ithin the wood; and care for the colony's king, queen and soldiers.
The workers maintain the shelter tubes and close any breaks in the surface of the wood they are infesting. Termites must have this closed system to maintain a certain level of humidity. The tubes also serve as a protective barrier against natural enemies, especially ants. Occasionally, a subterranean termite colony may find a source of moisture in the wood, from a leaking pipe or roof, for example, so contact with the soil is no longer necessary.
Workers are sometimes mistaken for "white ants." They mature within a few months and may live 2 to 3 years. Large numbers of them can be found in forest logs, wood lying in contact with the soil, or in the lumber in buildings.
Soldiers
One to 3 percent of a colony's population is the soldiers, which guard the colony against predators, primarily ants. Soldiers have greatly enlarged, dark, reddish-brown heads and sword-like mandibles that operate with scissorslike action to attack enemies. Soldiers also mature within a few months and may live 2 to 3 years. they are believed to be sterile, and thus do not participate in reproduction.
Swarmers
There are three types of swarmer termites, also known as reproductives: primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary swarmers are a winged form from which a king and queen develop. These winged swarmers are produced in large numbers seasonally. They leave the colony in a swarming flight, shed their wings, and pair off to seek nesting sites where they mate and start new colonies. A queen may lay more than 60,000 eggs during her lifetime.
The primary swarmers are produced in mature colonies ( 3 to 5 years old and older ). They have dark colored, flattened bodies and large eyes. their two pairs of wings are equal in length and narrow. After a single short colonizing flight, the wings break off near the base.
Secondary swarmers, both male and female, develop under certain conditions, such as when the king and queen die or when part of the colony becomes separated from the main colony. these reproductives are wingless but have wing pads. Female secondary reproductives supplement the egg production of the primary queen.
Tertiary swarmers are wingless, with no wing pads. In the absence of primary and secondary swarmers, tertiary swarmers will mate and lay eggs.
