Western Subterranean Termite – Rhinotermitidae Hesperus

Western Subterranean Termite (Rhinotermitidae Hesperus) Common Name: Western Subterranean Termite Latin Name: Rhinotermitidae Hesperus Appearance:

• Western subterranean termites have two hardened and swollen veins in the front of their bodies, roughly a fourth of an inch long.
• Western subterranean termites have white or cream-colored workers that resemble ants. For combat against colony invaders, soldiers have an orange, rectangular-shaped skull with large pincher-like mouthparts.
• Swarmers have a dark brown body of 3/8-inch in length (wings included). They have two pairs of wings, with the front wings larger than the hind wings.
• Adults and nymphs are preyed upon by the larvae of the lacewing Lomamyia latipennis, which lays its eggs on stumps and decomposing logs. When a first-instar larva comes upon a termite, it waves its abdomen and releases an allomone, which paralyzes the termite in two to three minutes.

Host plant:   Termites eat on fallen trees, stumps, grasses, shrubs, and other decaying plant matter. Territory: It is found throughout Central America and North America. Damages caused by Western Subterranean Termite: Damage, mud tubes, and evidence of swarmers indicate an infestation. Termite-damaged wood appears honeycombed, with tiered hollow portions filled with muck and partially digested wood. Life history and habits: Wood and other cellulose materials comprise most of a subterranean termite’s diet. Plant-based fibers to processed goods like drywall/sheetrock, books, paper, and specific insulation are all examples of cellulose materials. From the egg through maturity, there are distinct rates of development. Termites produced from eggs (called larvae) molt into distinct termite types, and one main queen per colony can lay tens of thousands of eggs in her lifespan (i.e., soldier, worker, etc.). A single pair of alates can become a mature colony that can generate alates in five to ten years.