Subterranean Termite Swarming Season

A termite queen, Reticulitermes sp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Photo by Bart Drees, Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M University.

A winged reproductive, Reticulitermes sp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Photo by Center for Urban and Structural Entomology, Texas A&M University.

February through May is termite-swarming season for one subterranean termite genus, Reticulitermes, in Texas. Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies underground in order to avoid sunshine and outside air. Their caste system consists of workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Each caste member within a termite colony has distinct physical and behavioral characteristics. The workers build shelter tubes from tiny pieces of soil, wood, and debris glued together using secretions and fecal material. These shelter tubes form an extensive tunneling system underground that allows food resources to be carried back into the colony. The soldier termites protect the colony from other insect intruders, and the winged reproductives are responsible for starting a new colony.

Termites feed on any cellulose material, such as roots, paper, and cardboard. They are important to our ecosystem, since they decompose cellulose; however, they become economic pests when they invade human dwellings and structures. Termite damage may be detected by the presence of mud tubes, damaged wood, and the swarming of winged, reproductive termites.  
 
Preventative Practices

• Remove any stumps, scrap wood, grade stakes, cardboard boxes, and newspapers found around structures.
• Avoid storing firewood, landscape timbers, and compost piles around foundations of structures.
• Minimize moist areas by grading the soil and installing gutters to allow water to drain away from buildings.
• Do not allow shrubs, vines, tall grasses and other dense vegetation to grow against structures. Thick vegetation makes it hard to inspect for termite activity and these plants tend to trap moisture.

Chemical Approaches to Termite Control
If termites are found around structures, measures include the application of liquid termiticides and/or the installation of baiting systems. When soil termiticides are applied, they provide a continuous chemical barrier around the structure. There are both repellent and non-repellent liquid termiticides that can be applied. Termites attempting to tunnel into the chemically treated area will either be killed or repelled, thus preventing them from entering the structure. Termite-baiting systems can also be installed around structures and in conducive conditions within the area. The station will initially contain a piece of untreated wood until termite activity is detected. Once termite activity is observed, then the untreated wood is replaced with a plastic tube containing a termiticide within a cellulose matrix. The worker termites feed on the cellulose matrix and then exchange this material with other members of the colony, resulting in death of the colony members. 

For all those coffee drinkers out there!

Coffee is one of the biggest cash crops in many parts of the world, and the coffee berry borer is one of the most widespread pests of the coffee berry. These tiny beetles cause economic losses estimated at $500 million. Recently, however, a group of scientists discovered a thrips species, Karnyothrips flavipes, which is a natural enemy of the coffee borer. For the full story, click here.

Updated Website to Help Identify Insects

While field guides are a great reference, people often turn to websites to help them identify insects. The new and improved 4H Entomology website found at http://insects.tamu.edu/youth/4h/index.html is a wonderful resource for the general public. It contains a guide to insect orders, where you can learn how to pronounce scientific names and find biological information. The site also includes great videos on collecting, pinning and preserving insects. It serves as an impressive teaching tool for beginning insect collectors and those who want to start a reference collection.

About the author: Kimberly Schofield is a program specialist in the field of urban integrated pest management at the Texas A&M Research Center in Dallas.

Mention of commercial products is for educational purposes only and does not represent endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension or The Texas A&M University System. Insecticide label registrations are subject to change, and changes may have occurred since this article was written. The pesticide user is always responsible for applying products in accordance with label directions. Always read and carefully follow the instructions on the container label.