Termite Identification

Subterranean termites are a species of termite that feed on wood and other cellulose products; preferring to invade pieces of wood that have been previously damaged by water.  As their name suggests, they nest and travel under the surface of the ground. Termites are responsible for causing over 5 billion dollars’ worth of damages to homes all across the United States each year.

What a termite looks like depends on what caste it belongs to- workers, soldiers or reproductives.  Each caste has a unique job that helps the colony to thrive and survive.

Workers – Workers are rarely if ever seen since they are mostly found traveling and nesting underground and creating tunnels and gathering food for the colony on the inside of wood.  Worker termites do not have wings, are blind, and have a cream colored soft body.  They range in length from ¼ to ½ of an inch.

Soldiers– Soldiers appear very similar to the workers except that they have a brownish colored head and very large mandible that they use to defend their colony with. They are also wingless and blind.

Reproductives– The reproductive members of the colony are the largest in size-growing up to ½ an inch in length.  The reproductive are the members of the colony that you are most likely to see; they are dark brown to black in color and have two pairs of wings that are equal in length.  In the spring, generally after a rain, they will swarm from their colony in order to find a mate, shed their wings, and start a new colony of their own.

Dangers Associated With Termites

Termites do not bite or sting, but can and will cause significant structural damage to your home or other structures if not addressed and prevented.

Termite Prevention

Subterranean termites need to be prevented because of the damages they can cause, which can be very dangerous and costly to repair.

 As a homeowner there are several things that you can do to help to deter termites from your home and property.  Termite prevention tips:

  • Reduce excess areas of moisture; make sure that gutters are not clogged and that they are directing water away from your house.  Fix leaky pipes or fixtures in and around your house.
  • Don’t let organic debris like piles of leaves build up on your property.  If trees have fallen, promptly remove them.
  • Seal cracks and crevices that have developed in your home’s foundation or exterior walls.
  • Remove or replace wood that has been damaged by water.
  • Limit soil to wood contact in structures like wooden swing sets, decks, sheds, and the like that are located on your property.

A subterranean termite presence in your home or building structure often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. The best way to stop, control and prevent them is with help from a professional.

Damages Structures

Difficult to Eradicate

Difficult To See

Structure Invading

Subterranean termites are a concern all year long in New Jersey.

Termite Treatment

The only way to truly get rid of termites is through the help of trained professionals.  At ChemTec the first step we take to get rid of your termite problem is a termite inspection.  Our inspectors will look for signs of termite damage, for the presences of termites, and for the subtle signs of termites – some of which only a trained eye may notice.

If it is determined that termites have invaded your home we will immediately give you an estimate, put into place a contract agreement, and set up an appointment to safely get rid of the termites.  At ChemTec we understand just how important time is when dealing with termites! That is why we respond quickly and eliminate these destructive creatures as soon as possible.

The termite control experts at ChemTec will provide termite elimination services including the use of the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System.  The Sentricon® system is a very effective, non-invasive, and environmentally friendly way to completely eliminate and control termites on your property.

For more information about setting up a termite inspection or our effective termite control solutions, call us today at ChemTec Pest Control.

Helpful Termite Articles

New Homeowners Guide To Termites

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