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Western Subterranean Termites
   
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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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