Arid-land Subterranean Termite – Rhinotermitidae tibialis

Arid-land Subterranean Termite (Rhinotermitidae tibialis) Common Name: Arid-land Subterranean Termite Latin Name: Rhinotermitidae tibialis Appearance:

• Arid land subterranean termites have three primary castes, similar to many other subterranean termite species (adult reproductives, workers and soldiers).
• After winged, adults are around 12 inches long, and when they lose their wings, they are about 3/8 inch long.
• They are dark brown to black, with practically transparent wings save for the wing veins.
• Soldiers are almost the same size as adults but have longer mandibles to fend off predators.
• The foragers who devour cellulose material belong to the worker caste, which resembles light-colored ants.

Territory: Reticulitermes tibialis has a larger North American range than other members of its genus. Most of the western and north-central areas of the United States are within its range. Damages caused by Arid-land Subterranean Termite: Swarming termites, heaps of shed wings around windows and doors, mud tubes, and weak, mushy wood with peeling or bubbling paint in the home are all signs of an infestation. Life history and habits: Reproduction occurs when flying men and females (alates) depart the initial colony in a series of reproductive swarmings. As soon as the male and female alates touch down, they mate, shed their wings, and begin looking for a suitable location to create a colony. The colony site begins as a chamber where the queen (fertilized female alate) mates and begins to lay eggs. In general, only a tiny percentage of alates survive to establish colonies.