Termites are little critters that slowly devour your home. They belong to the phylum Arthropoda, the class Insecta, and the order Isoptera. There are more than 2,000 different species of termites out there. Termites eat dead plants and trees. The cellulose or organic fiber in the wood matter is what sustains them. Some termites feed on plastic and drywall.
Termites can be categorized into three types. The subterranean, which prefers softwoods. The drywood termites that feed on wood materials found in the attic. And the dampwood type, which prefers moist decaying wood. Their length can range from 1/4 to ½ an inch.
Termite Colony
Termite colony includes the workers, soldiers, reproductives, and the kings and queens. The soldiers use their mandibles to keep predators at bay. Workers are responsible for feeding the members of the colony. The reproductives are the sexually mature members, apart from the king and queen.
Signs of Termite Infestation at Home
You can’t easily spot termites, so you should look for other signs of their presence. If you see small, ridged and brownish pellets, these are droppings. Also, look for mud tubes on surfaces. When you see these, call pest control experts around Dallas, TX because these mud tubes are hard to remove on your own. Shredded wings are also signs that there are termites around.