|
Powderpost or Furniture Termites
Pictures will be posted at a later date
Don't see what you're looking for? Click here for more examples.
Need to control Powderpost Termites? Click here.
COMMON NAME: Powderpost or furniture termites
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cryptotermes spp.
CLASS l ORDER I FAMILY: Insecta / Isoptera l Kalotermitidae
METAMORPHOSIS: Simple
INTRODUCTION: The common name powderpost comes from the termite’s small fecal pellets these termites produce and furniture because they commonly attack the wood of furniture. These are drywood termites; they infest relatively dry wood (12% or less wood moisture content), require no ground contact, get needed moisture from the infested wood, and are found primarily in humid coastal areas. The normal wood moisture content is less than 8-12%, except along the coastal plains where the moisture level can exceed the 12% level. In the United States, they are found in Florida, the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the south, and Hawaii.
RECOGNITION:
Swarmer. About 7/16-1/2" long including its wings with the head width being 1/32-1/16" . The head and body are pale yellowish brown to pale reddish brown and the wings are sclerotized (hardened and pigmented). The veins are pale yellowish brown in the outer half of the wing. Its head has 2 ocelli which are almost round. Its antenna has from 11-14 segments. The front wing have 3 dark, heavily sclerotized veins in the front half of wing. The median vein is un-sclerotized and runs midway between sclerotized veins above and unsclerotized area below. The area ends near the wing tip even if branched along its length and is not hairy. Tibia with spines lacking along length, apex with 3 spines.
Soldier. Head short and thick in front, front surrounded by a flange (appearing scooped out) and front part nearly black. Mandibles re-curved under front of head, with an unequal number of teeth on each member of pair. Antenna with fewer than 19 segments. Tibia lacks spines along length.
DAMAGE AND SIGNS OF INFESTATION: Powderpost termite damage is identical to that of other the other drywood termites. They eat across the wood grain and make chambers and/or galleries connected by tunnels. Their gallery and tunnel walls are velvety smooth, and they are devid of soil. Usually there are fecal pellets present, which are hard, elongate-oval with rounded ends, and have 6 concave sides. This is typicl of all drywood termites. Typical signs of infestation include swarmers, shed wings, piles of pellets, termite plugs which seal all openings in infested wood, and surface blisters caused by older enlarged galleries very close to the wood surface. Occasionally they may build shelter tubes constructed of pellets cemented together to bridge over to an adjacent piece of wood.
BIOLOGY: Powderpost termites are non-subterranean termites; they do not live in the ground, require no soil/ground contact, and do not build mud shelter tubes. Their colonies are located in the wood they eat and are small in size when compared to other subterranean termite colonies, usually numbering several thousand individuals after over 7 years years. There is no worker caste and the immatures/nymphs perform all of the tasks typically done by workers.
The tropical rough-headed powderpost termite (C. brevis) mostly swarms near sunrise or after sunset, from April to July. The smooth-headed powderpost termite (C. cavifrons) swarms in the evening year-round, but especially in the spring. Evening and night-time swarmers are attracted to lights. Night swarms usually contain dozens, occasionally hundreds of alates/swarmers. A typical single colony may produce up to 20 swarms over a month and a half period.
HABITS: Swarming powderpost termites fly into structures and infest wood directly with out the need for soil. They typically first infest exposed wood such as window/door frames, trim, eaves, attics, etc. These places are typical points of entry since access is provided via man-made joints to allow the termite in. Some call the termites “lazy” because of their unwillingness to enter sides of exposed wood. When swarming, they usually re-infest the same structure. Multiple colonies are often found in a structure or single infestation site.
The tropical rough-headed powderpost termite (C. brevis) is typically distributed through human activity. Infestation to other areas is achieved by transporting infested furniture, picture frames, and wood to new areas. The tropical rough-headed powderpost termite has been found as far north as Ontario, Canada, and as far west as Los Angeles, California. It has not become established in these areas and is found in structures, but never outdoors.
CONTROL: Since infestation is direct and not via the ground, the most successful methods of control are fumigation, or local treatment or replacement of the infested wood. Fumigation is recommended if infestations are widespread and/or difficult to access whereas, local treatment with pesticides or other means is prudent where infestations are isolated and accessible.
If the infestation is confined to a piece of furniture, picture frame, etc. which can easily be removed, then it may be treated via heat or cold if practical, or the infested item destroyed. Other methods/means available include the use of microwaves, the application of electrical currents (high watts, low amps), etc.
Localized infestations may be treated via intergallery injection or surface treatment with pesticides which are labeled for these termites.
|
