What do termites look like?
Subterranean termite colonies consist of three different castes–reproductives, workers and soldiers. All of the subterranean termites are generally creamy white in appearance and are translucent, looking very much in size, and shape as a grain of rice. The reproductives, or “swarmers,” have a pair of even-sized wings and are often mistaken for flying ants. The workers look similar to the “swarmers,” only they are a little smaller, don’t have wings and are lighter in color. The soldiers are also similar except for their tan-colored oversized heads and large, crushing mandibles.
• Subterranean termite colonies consist of three different castes–reproductives, workers and soldiers. All of the Subterranean termites are generally creamy white in appearance and are translucent, looking very much in size, shape and color as a grain of rice. The reproductives, or swarmers, have a pair of even-sized wings and are often mistaken for flying ants. The workers look similar to the swarmers, only they are a little smaller and do not have wings. The soldiers are also similar except for their oversized heads and large, crushing mandibles.
Swarmers, as mentioned above are mistaken for flying ants all the time. Termite swarmers are black & have wings. The differences between ants & termites are many. Termite swarmers do not have a pinched or segmented body. They have a solid body from head to tail. Termite swarmers have a pair of wings that are equal in length & twice as long as the termite. Also the wings are not a permanent appendage. Termite workers are white or cream colored. They can only travel above ground by building tubes made out of soil. Termite workers have no exoskeleton & must return to the ground periodacally to remoisten their body & share the wood with other members of the colony. Termite colonies live in the ground not in your home. Termites come to the surface to feed in mulch beds, on landscape timbers, fences, fire wood, your home & many other wood sources that come in direct contact with the ground. You may never see worker termites unless you find them in the areas that they are feeding in.
Termites look similar to flying ants, except they have elongated bodies rather than separated body parts. They also have two pairs of wings. In Southern California, we deal mostly with two types: Subterranean and Drywood. Subterranean termites live within the ground and travel to the structure in mud tunnels. Drywood termites live in the wood and produce small round pellets that resemble coffee grounds.
Subterranean termite colonies consist of three different castes–reproductives, workers and soldiers. All of the subterranean termites are generally creamy white in appearance and are translucent, looking very much in size, and shape as a grain of rice. The reproductives, or “swarmers,” have a pair of even-sized wings and are often mistaken for flying ants. The workers look similar to the “swarmers,” only they are a little smaller, don’t have wings and are lighter in color. The soldiers are also similar except for their tan-colored oversized heads and large, crushing mandibles.
