Subterranean Termites

What do subterranean termites look like?

Subterranean termites live and work together in very large underground colonies with the members being divided into different castes. Their appearance will vary depending on whether they are a worker, soldier, or reproductive member.

Workers make up the bulk of the colony. They have a soft, creamy-white body, no wings, are blind, and grow to be about 1/4 of an inch in length. The soldiers are a bit larger than the workers and have an elongated yellow head, short legs, and large, strong jaws that they use to protect the colony. The reproductive members are the largest members of the colony. They have wings, are dark-brown to black, and are about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch in length.

Subterranean termites live underground and attack the inside of wood, so it is very rare for a termite to be seen crawling around out in the open.

Where are subterranean termites found?

Subterranean termites typically live outside in underground nests. The workers leave their nests to forage for food, and while foraging, they sometimes find a crack in the foundation or exterior wall of an Iowa or Illinois home or other building and enter. Once inside, they may attack the structural wood, being especially drawn to wood that has been previously damaged by water. The workers will tunnel through the structural wood and gather food for the colony. Along with foraging for food inside, they may create a satellite nest and eventually start to attack structurally sound wood as well.

What do these termites eat?

This type of termite eats the cellulose contained in wood and wood byproducts. Inside structures, they prefer rotting or damaged wood but will move onto sound wood. Outside, they break down decaying organic matter which releases nutrients back into the soil.

Regular termite inspections performed by termite control experts are very important to win the battle against subterranean termites. It can take weeks, months, or years for homeowners to realize that their property has been invaded by these destructive pests. The damages that termites cause can be extensive and costly to repair. In fact, termites cause over 5 billion dollars in damages to properties all across the U.S. each year!