Termites are a little hard to love. They have a reputation for being pests and destroyers of homes. But they’re not all bad, so let’s learn more about these little guys. Termites eat wood and can do severe damage to your home if you let them go unchecked. However, many people are unaware that these pests are a standard part of nature. Termites are naturally occurring pest control nyc cost, and without them, there wouldn’t be much in the way of forests and wood for people to build their homes out of.
Termites are one of the most successful insects, numbering in the billions. Of all the animals on Earth (excluding humans), termites have the most significant species (approximately 1,800). In addition, termites have several specialized specializations that make life easier for them. However, many people are unaware that these pests are a standard part of nature. They exist everywhere and would be unlikely to harm your home if you let them be. However, a termite infestation is the worst thing to the average wooded house. Below is a list of facts about termites you should learn before getting rid of them from your home.
- Termites Only Attack Woody Materials such as Furniture, Flooring, and Cabinets.
Although termite colonies will eat firewood, paper, and other cellulose-based materials, they do not seem to attack concrete or other types of materials made from non-woody substitutes. Therefore, wooden objects are the most susceptible to infestation, while other items in your home should not be affected. It is thought that this is because these types of materials do not have enough moisture to be digested.
- Termites Eat Wood
Termites target precious wood products such as furniture and cabinets because they are full of oleoresin, a common ingredient in the poo produced by termite colonies. Wood is digested in the termites and then excreted as a white pulp. This pulp is precious because it has many uses. For example, it can be kindling to prepare a fire before lighting. It can also be used as fertilizer for plants, rich in minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients beneficial to humans and other animals. The oleoresin is what the termites like to eat. It’s like a protein supplement for insects.
- They Are Strict Vegetarians
Termites will not eat anything that is not made out of wood. Even if they are starving, they will not eat your food but will continue to search for wood to eat. Even the queen of a termite colony is a strict vegetarian. One of the negative aspects of having termites in your home is that they can go long periods without eating because they don’t need to survive on a meat-based diet. It makes them much less dangerous to humans than most animals, which are omnivorous and will eat both plants and animals.
- Termites Don’t Live Alone.
A termite colony includes a queen and thousands of workers whose sole purpose is to search for food for the colony. The queen is the only adult in a colony that mates with male termites and produces eggs. One singular termite queen can produce millions of eggs throughout her lifetime, so it is essential for them to grow fast, healthy and robust. A colony queen’s average life expectancy is usually around 15 or 20 years, depending on their environment. They may live longer, but they don’t live alone. The worker termites will live longer, but not significantly so. Queens and workers tend to live longer in warmer climates.
- Termites are Social Insects
Termites are very social insects. They live in large colonies with a hierarchical order of workers and a queen, and they have a caste system based on their role in the colony that determines what they do all day. The queen is the head of the colony and is not very active in the day-to-day running of things. The workers are responsible for building, maintaining, and repairing the nests and for foraging for food for their colony members. Although there is an order, the termites are not as social as bees or ants found in highly organized hives. However, both termites and ants have a society where a queen and king rule over the colony, establishing work roles for all involved.
Termites are small but mighty creatures. If you don’t take care of your termite problem, it can cause significant damage. Termites will eat wood or chew holes in it, but they won’t eat your house. However, they will invade and destroy the wood inside your home if you don’t treat them properly. Before you call a pest control professional to get rid of them from the inside of your home, find out all you can think about termites first. Being armed with knowledge is one of the best ways to keep your home safe. Also, instead of throwing away wood products, you can use them in creative ways that are fun and useful around your home.
