Pest Control Blog

Pest Control and Termite Control Specialists

Termites (White Ants)

Micropest specialises in the control of termites (white ants) in the greater Sydney area. When carrying out a treatment for termites micropest prides itself on using safe, effective and environmentally friendly termite treatments.

To understand how termites (white ants) are controlled, its best to understand how termites breed, feed and live. If you think you have found termites in your building, or have any enquires about termites please don't hesitate to phone micropest on 1300 24 33 77 or email us. The following links contain closely related information about termites.

Information About Termites (White Ants)

Termites (White Ants) have existed for millions of years and believe it or not the closest insect they are related to are cockroaches not ants. Termites belong to the insect order of isoptera meaning "iso" meaning equal and "ptera" meaning wings, referring to the reproductive termite known as alates which have wings that are similar shape, and venation of the four wings.

Termites (White Ants) are social insects and there a multiple castes within the colony, alates, queen, king, nursery, soldiers and workers. Termites live in a central colony and radiate out from there approximately 100 metres in search of food (timber or cellulose material). The worker termites particularly digest the cellulose materials before returning to the nest to feed the colony. This is what causes damage to our buildings and bank accounts as many Sydney-siders will attest and unfortunately it can happen in a matter of months. That is why a termite inspection is recommended at least once a year.

The reason termites (white ants) are so unpredictable and destructive is that they are blind and cant smell, they blunder upon their food source. Termites can't distinguish between a building or trees. Alate termites swarm three or four times a year usually in summer. Each time they swarm they start up seven new nests usually not far away from the mother termite nest. So that's twenty eight new termite colonies started every year from one nest and it takes approximately seven years for these immature termite nests to become commercially destructive. The most interesting fact about termites is that they feed each other through trophallaxis meaning they get their nutrition from grooming each other (licking the sweat of each others back).

Castes Within the Termite Colony

Alates

On a warm, humid evening, large numbers of winged male and female termites (white ants), the "alates" or "primary reproductives", are released by the colony. A small number survive the flight, drop their two pairs of distinctive, equal sized wings, pair off, mate and, if they can, find a suitable locations and start a new colony.

Queen

As the other termites (white ants) castes take over the running of the colony the young queen of most species becomes "physogastric". Her abdomen distends to many times its original size and she becomes an egg laying machine, laying up to 1000 eggs a day. She is confined to her royal chamber, tended and fed by the workers and regularly fertilised by the king.

Nursery

The termite eggs are removed from the royal chamber and transferred to a nursury by the workers. Here the broo (the eggs and nymphs) develops into the other castes that the colony requires for development and survival; workers, soldiers and primary or secondary reproductives.

Soldiers and Workers

Soldiers and workers are blind and sterile termites (white ants). The workers carry out the work of the colony and are responsible for gathering the food the colony needs. In most species, the heads of the soldiers are uniquely armoured and equipped to allow them to defend the colony against attack, notably from ants.