What is a termite?
QUESTION 1: Just what is a termite? Termites are small, pale to brownish black in color, insects that feed on wood. The opening picture of this webpage shows a picture of drywood termites, common to California. Termites’ closest insect relatives are cockroaches! Termites have been in north America for more than 20 million years. There are at least 50 different kinds (species) of termites in North America. However, most can be lumped into one of three ecological groups; dampwood, drywood, and subterranean . Dampwood termites are common in fallen logs in forests and are uncommon as structural pests. Dampwood termites are our largest species of termite in north America (more half an inch). Subterranean termites are the most common ecological group of termites encountered. They are our smallest ecological group of termite, less than a quarter inch in length. Subterranean termites form large nests in the ground and forage out to attack wood using shelter tubes (also called mudtubes) that th
