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Desert Subterranean Termites
Dampwood
Termite
Eastern Subterranean
Termite
Drywood Termite
Formosan Termite
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Desert Subterranean
Termite
Powderpost
Termite
Western Subterranean
Termite
Western Drywood
Termite | 
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Common Name: Desert Subterranean Termite.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Heterotermes
aureus (Snyder)
CLASSlORDERIFAMILY: Insecta /
lsoptera / Rhinotermitidae
METAMORPHOSIS:
Simple
INTRODUCTION: This termite
gets its common name which reflects its southwestern United States distribution.
It is almost entirely restricted to the Colorado and Gila deserts of southern
Arizona and California and into Lower/Baja California. It occurs occasionally in
Houston, TX. The termite lives in desert plants including dead cactus, but can
severely damage posts, utility poles, and the wood of other
structures.
RECOGNITION:
Swarmer. Is about 3/8” long including the wings. His body is pale
yellowish to pale yellowish brown and the fontanelle (front gland pore) is
indistinct or absent. The wing is complete with 2 prominent but lightly
pigmented and heavily sclerotized (hardened) veins in front portion of the wing.
Its other veins are un-pigmented except for the basal third. The wing membrane
is translucent and almost colorless, with a few barely visible hairs. The front
wing scale is distinctly larger than the hind wing scale and may overlap the
basal portion of the hind wing scale. Ocelli are conspicuous but not large and
the antenna has less than 18 segments.
Soldier. The head is
rectangular in shape and not narrowed toward the front. The length is about 2x
the width. The presence of fontanelle (front gland pore) are dorsal. Its
mandibles are very slender and fairly straight but slightly curved inward at the
tip. Then they are acutely pointed and usually longer than head width. They lack
teeth with the pronotum being flat and almost as wide as the head.
DAMAGE AND SIGNS OF INFESTATION:
Subterranean termites eat primarily the spring wood which they prefer over
the lignin-containing summer wood. Consequently, damaged wood appears to be
layered and sometimes soil is present in the galleries.
This species is less dependent on
moisture and decay than other subterranean termites. It will readily attack dry,
sound wood. A typical sign of infestation is the presence of drop tubes coming
from the ceiling rafters and sheetrock/plasterboard and/or holes in the
sheetrock plugged with feces. Also, their mud shelter tubes are light in color
(yellowish white to tan) and almost circular in cross section.
BIOLOGY: Not much has been
published on the biology of this species. Its biology is thought to be
COMMON NAME: Western
subterranean termite
SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Reticulitermes hesperus Banks
CLASSlORDERIFAMILY:
Insecta / Isoptera l Rhinotermitidae
METAMORPHOSIS: Simple
INTRODUCTION: This
species is restricted to the western states, ranging from British Columbia south
to western Mexico and east to Idaho and Nevada.
RECOGNITION:
Swarmer. About 3/8" long including wings. Body dark brown to almost
black. Fontanelle (frontal gland pore) present may be inconspicuous. Front wing
with 2 dark, heavily sclerotized (hardened) veins in front portion, other veins
are un-pigmented except for the basal third of the wing. Wings are brownish
gray, with a few barely visible hairs. The scale of the front wing is distinctly
larger than hind wing scale and may overlap the basal portion of the hind wing.
The leg is complete with the tibia, which are slightly darkened with the tarsus
a pale color.
Soldier. Its head
is rectangular in shape, not narrowed toward front, with the length fully 2
times the width. The fontanelle (frontal gland pore) are dorsal. The mandibles
lack teeth and the pronotum is flat and almost as wide as the head.
DAMAGE AND SIGNS OF
INFESTATION: This is identical to the eastern subterranean termite. They eat
mostly the spring wood and leave the lignin-containing summer wood which they
have difficulty digesting. Hence, damaged wood appears to be layered with soil
being found in the galleries.
BIOLOGY: The
biology of the western subterranean termite is very similar to that of the
eastern subterranean termite. After swarming, they pair off and construct an
appropriate cavity. They mate within a day of excavating their cavity. An
average of 10 eggs is produced in the 1st clutch. The eggs usually hatch in
about 55 days up to 90 days). The 1st instar lasts no more than 18 days, the 2nd
lasts 14-18 days, the 3rd about 30 days, and the 4th about 60 days. There may be
up to 7 instars. Development usually takes more than 5 months and workers may
live from 3-5 years. Swarmers are not produced before the 3rd or 4th year, at
the earliest.
Swarming takes place
during the daytime. In the northern part of its range, swarming takes place in
the spring, but without rain. In the southern portion of its range, swarming
usually follows rain. In some areas, fall swarms are very large. Swarming is a
time for concern.
HABITS: These are
the same as for the eastern subterranean termites. The colonies are usually
located in the ground. Location is usually below the frost line, but above the
water table and rock formations. Mud tubes are built to cross areas of adverse
conditions between the colony and food sources. They can enter structures
through cracks less than 1/16" wide. However, if a constant source of moisture
is available (like leaky pipes), colonies (called secondary colonies) can exist
above ground and without ground contact.
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