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Jan. 26, 2009 10:37 AM


Termite QueenAround the 1st century, the Chinese learned that “white ants” could destroy houses. At the same time, they incorporated termites into a few herbal medicines – an early form of turning the tables on your enemy! In fact, termites can be a healthy meal in some cultures – the food value of fresh termites is 126 calories / 3.5 ounces (25 grams of protein and 2.5 grams of fat).

The bad blood between ants and termites probably has a long history. Many ant species are predators of other insects; they forage for caterpillars, beetle grubs and even other ants in the soil and up in trees. When they encounter termite colonies – soup’s on! Ants have powerful jaws and they know how to use them. Termite colonies have “soldiers” to protect the workers. These termite soldiers have large and powerful jaws, but there are not enough of them. It can get ugly – ants usually win.

After Hurricane Katrina, there was a false rumor circulating about wood mulch. The rumor was that house debris and trees were turned into mulch, and this mulch contained termites. Wrong! The rumor was not only false, but it also would be impossible for termites to live through the process of making mulch, and to survive in bags of mulch sold in stores.

The myth of the reward for a termite queen is still circulating. This is the belief that a pest control company will pay for a live termite queen. Wrong! There are some movies and other accounts of people digging to get a large queen termite, but these are species that typically occur in the tropics. In fact, the queens of termites in the U.S. are not very large, and not valuable if taken alive or dead. Don’t start digging.

References: Handbook of Urban Insects and Arthropods. 2005. Wm. H Robinson. Cambridge Univ. Press: Cambridge, U.K.

Man Eating Bugs: The Art and Science of Eating Insects. P. Menzel and F. D’Aluisio. 1998. The Speed Press, Berkeley, CA.

 

 

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RE: Firewood and subterranean Termites

Unless the wood is in direct contact with the ground, subterranean termites rarely infest firewood. In your case, where the firewood has been stored above ground and in a dry location, there is no possibility for infestation. The piece of wood you found with old damage can be stored and used. In general, all subterranean termite species produce winged forms (adults) at some time during the year. However, in some well-established colonies, it is possible that the winged forms do not leave the nest, but remain underground to mate.

William H. Robinson, Ph.D.
2009-09-25 08:56 AM

Firewood and subteraneanTermites

Previous owner had an infestation a number of years ago. The house has been treated by Orkin with regular inspections. I have firewood stored off the ground in a very dry climate at a distant location. I have been bringing it to the house, splitting and storing small quantities in the garage. Upon splitting the last batch I noticed one piece had been infested. It was my assumption that once previously infested wood was off the ground, the termites in it wood quickly die and the wood would be OK to store in the garage off the floor and stacked on metal. What do you think? OK or not? Also, do subteranean termites swarm and fly?

Gerald Devereux
2009-09-24 11:19 AM