Termite Larvae
The term red termite comes from the alates who have wings and fly around during the springtime looking for new nesting grounds to mate and lay their termite larvae eggs.
People often confuse the red termite with the flying ants. Although termites live in colonies as do ants, which will be the only similarity.
Ants are destructive, but termites are devastating. Some interesting things about the red termite, it is just another destructive and destroying regular old termite.
Termites are sometimes called white ants although they belong to a group that the cockroach belongs to and the ant belongs to the group with wasp and bees. There are three groups of termites with many different species in each group, but there is not a species called the red termite.
The term comes from the biological cycle of the termites. The red termite as people say helps with our ecosystem. They feed on dead wood, plant debris, tree stumps, and other matter in the wilderness that needs recycling into humus. This helps to fertilize the ground soil.
Everywhere a colony exists, the soil will be well fertilized. This accounts for why farmers will plant their crops close to underground colonies. Termites attract to cellulose that we find in wood.
This is true for the many buildings with termite infestation that go undetected for years. These pests have the uncanny ability to hide and can go unnoticed, gradually destroying homes and business establishments.
These devastating insects devour up to fifteen pounds of wood a week and if left undetected will destroy a building in no time.
Another interesting thing about the red termite is they will take plaster, plastic, and paper to the nest for construction. They also feed on materials that contain cellulose, which is paper, carpets, clothes, and other things that contain cellulose.
Because nothing you own is safe from the termites, this accounts for the billions of dollars spent yearly to replace termite damage.
On one acre of land, you can find up to fifteen colonies, which broken down comes to four or five colonies around your home alone.
If you have some knowledge about red termites, you can try to protect your home by treating the inside and the outside of your home to prevent infestation.
You need to create a barrier outside around the foundation of your home to block the termites from gaining access to your home.
How can you find out whether your house needs a termite infection? Knock on the wood and see if it is hollow. If you find them becoming hollow then it is a warning sign. If you find winged insects in and around the house that is another danger sign.
Cracked paint and discarded wings only confirm your suspicions. If you identify more than one of these symptoms you better get a termite inspector to inspect the house. When you are buying or selling a house it is mandatory to go through termite inspection.
