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There are a variety of
termites in the U.S. but they all have one thing in common: left
alone, they'll eat you out of house and home. The most common
varieties, subterranean termites, consist of a queen, king,
reproductives, workers and soldiers.
(alate means
"winged")
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Formosan
swarmers
Body: 1/2 inches long (larger than most
other subterranean varieties)
Color: yellow-brown
Wings: pale and densely covered with tiny
hairs
Swarming on humid evenings in Spring ensures the
establishment of a new colony.
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 Coptotermes,
soldier
Body:
Head is oval-shaped rather than elongated.
Wings: no
Soldiers are quite aggressive; their purpose is to defend
the colony. |
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 Heterotermes,
alate
Body:
dark brown
Length: about 3/8 inch, including wings
Wings: translucent with two dark veins
Heterotermes, alate are swarmers |
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 Heterotermes,
soldier
Body:
Length is about 1 1/2 times its width with a rectangular
head
Notice the distinct mandibles.
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 Reticulitermes,
alate
Body:
dark brown
Wings: dark brownish-gray wings with a few
visible hairs; front wings are slightly larger than the hind
wings
Length: about 3/8 inch, including wings
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 Reticulitermes,
nymph
Color:
pale
Nymphs will transform into workers, soldiers or winged
reproductives
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 Reticulitermes,
secondary
Size:
larger than nymphs and workers
Color: generally darker
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 Reticulitermes,
soldier
Body:
yellowish-brown with large rectangular head
Head: wider towards the front; equipped
with large mandibles
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 Reticulitermes,
worker
Color:
creamy white
Body: about 1/4 inch
Workers are blind and wingless, yet they are the most
encountered and the most destructive. Their bodies are soft,
but they have hard mouth-parts for chewing. |
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