This document summarizes a technical training on types of termites and their attributes. It discusses 5 main types of termites - dampwood termites, southeastern drywood termites, western drywood termites, desert subterranean termites. For each type, it describes their habitat, recognition (of workers, soldiers, swarmers), and some unique attributes. The document also discusses pre-construction and post-construction termite management strategies like physical and chemical barriers, baiting systems, inspection and localized treatment options.

1. Technical Training For Team
Conducted by Manish Ravindra Jadhav
Entomologist
Conducted on 21/04/2016
Training Topic Types of Termites and there Attributes
Training No First (1)
Points to be Covered 1) Introduction of Flies
2) Types of Flies
3) Difference between Male & Female Flies
4) Behavior of Flies
5) IPM Measures for Flies management

2. Introduction
1) Termites are social insects and live in colonies which are usually located in ground
or in wood. Most termites feed on cellulose from wood and wood by-products such
as paper; some tropical species feed on fungi, lichens etc.
2) Termites are usually divided into 3 groups based on the location of there colony; the
Subterranean , the Drywood and the Dampwood termites. The biology and habitat
of each group are different, so a detailed knowledge of each is necessary for effective
control.
Recognition :
Workers : Creamy white except with head slightly darker. No compound eyes or
ocelli present. Wing absent.
Soldiers : Creamy white except for dark and much enlarged head. With large pair of
mandibles except for nasutiform soldiers which lacks mandibles and have head
prolonged into a distinct snout. Wing absent
Swarmers : Pale yellowish to reddish brown to black, depending on the species.
Two pairs of wing nearly equal in length and width, which lie flat aver the abdomen
when not in use. Wings almost clear to smoky black.

3. Types of Termites
Type of Termites Scientific Name
Dampwood termites Zootermopsis angusticollis
Southeastern Drywood termites Incisitermes snyderi
Western Drywood termites Incisitermes minor
Desert subterranean termites Heteroterms aureus

4. Dampwood termites
(Zootermopsis angusticollis)
Winged
Termites
Soldier,
workers and
Nymphs

5. Habitat -:
1) As there name implies, Dampwood termites located their colonies in damp,
sometimes decaying wood. Representatives of 2 termite families are
included in this distinct habitat group. These termites vary in appearance
from family to family.
2) Dampwood termites eat across the grain, consuming both spring and
summer wood. They make series of galleries even there is no soil in the
galleries, but if conditions are extremely damp, the fecal pallets will stick
to the gallery walls form clumps or paste.
3) Dampwood termites are typically found in logs, stumps and old standing
dead trees. They also will attack poles, pilings and fence posts. They prefer
to attack damp and decaying wood but will move into sounder wood as long
as the connection to high moisture is maintained. From these places they
move into structures, especially where wood is in contact with the ground
or there is a constant moisture supply such as leaky pipes.
4) Dampwood termites eat across the grains, consuming both spring and
summer wood. In so doing, they make series of chambers connected by
tunnels whose wall are smooth as if finally sandpapered.

6. Southeastern Drywood termites
(Incisitermes snyderi)

7. Habitat -:
1) Their colonies are located in the wood they eat and are of small size when
compared to subterranean termite colonies, usually numbering about 3000
individuals after 15 years. There is no worker caste and the nymphs
perform all tasks typically done by worker.
2) Swarming takes place at night, peaking between 8 to 10pm, with swarmer
attracted to light. Swarming occurs primarily from March to Mid-August,
peaking from late May through Mid-June.
3) Swarming southeastern Drywood termites fly to structures and infest wood
directly. They typically first infest exposed wood such as window frames,
trim, fascia boards, eaves, siding, etc., and later may move into attics.
4) These termites are often distributed by human activity, commonly by
transporting infested furniture, pictures frames and wood to new areas.
However they have not become established outside of their normal
southeastern and mostly coastal range.

8. Western Drywood termites
(Incisitermes minor)

9. Habitat -:
1) Swarming Drywood termites fly into structures and infest wood directly.
When swarming, they often reinfest the same structure. They typically first
infest exposed wood such as window frames, trim, eaves, attics etc. They
do so by finding
2) Swarming takes place at night, peaking between 8 to 10pm, with swarmer
attracted to light. Swarming occurs primarily from March to Mid-August,
peaking from late May through Mid-June.
3) Swarming southeastern Drywood termites fly to structures and infest wood
directly. They typically first infest exposed wood such as window frames,
trim, fascia boards, eaves, siding, etc., and later may move into attics.
4) These termites are often distributed by human activity, commonly by
transporting infested furniture, pictures frames and wood to new areas.
However they have not become established outside of their normal
southeastern and mostly coastal range.

10. Desert subterranean termites
(Heteroterms aureus)

11. Habitat -:
1) The colonies are typically located in the desert soil. They readily build mud
tubes to transvers impenetrable material or adverse condition to reach
wood.
2) Their tubes are smaller, more solidly built, lighter in color and more
circular in cross section.
3) Desert subterranean termites require a hole of only about 1mm in diameter
for access.
4) These termites are often attracted to the thermal shadow provide areas of
soil with cooler temperature. Foraging is greater during the summer rainy
season, but they tend to forage year round in areas of denser vegetation.
Such areas provide higher moisture, lower temperature and food supply.
5)
6) This species is apparently less dependent on moisture and decay. It readily
attacks dry, sound wood. A typical sign of infestation is the presence of
drop tubes coming from the ceiling rafter and sheetrock and holes in the
sheetrock plugged with faces.

12. Confusing identifications of termite infestation
Eastern
Subterranean
Termites
Drywood
Termites
Dampwood
Termites

13. Life Cycle of Termites

14. B) Pre Construction Termite Management -:
1. Physical barriers – They are constructed from durable termite resistant materials
including Galvanized Iron, Zincanneal Steel, Sheet Cooper, Stainless Steel,
Stainless Steel Mesh, Aluminium Alloy, Graded Crushed Rock. Treated
lightweight materials such as timber can be used as a physical termite barrier.
Physical termite barriers are best suited for new buildings by deterring termite
entry and preventing the spread of termite activity.
2. Chemical barriers – They are suitable for new and existing buildings but care
must be taken when choosing an environmentally friendly chemical barrier. There
are a number of environmentally safe chemical barriers available. Chemicals must
be enclosed or impregnated and must not affect the air quality of the home. If a
chemical barrier treatment method is selected, please ensure that it is
nonhazardous and does not pose a threat to persons, animals or vegetation.
3. Baiting systems – These concentrate termites into a bait station and then
feed the termite a bait palatable food containing an active ingredient. The
termites collect the bait, return it the colony, and so spread the active
ingredient throughout the colony. If enough active ingredient is ingested, then it
is possible to eliminate the colony. Baiting systems can be installed at the time of
construction or at the time of the inspection of a house, acting as a continuous
monitoring system.
IPM Management for Termites

15. B) Post Construction Termite Management -:
1. Careful inspection is needed to detect and delimit termite damage and colonies, in
order to make best use of localized treatments, especially for drywood termites.
2. Nonchemical tactics such as wood replacement, heat, electrocution, and the
use of desiccants should be considered before pesticides. These may be
especially useful against drywood termites.
3. Barrier applications of insecticides may be made around structural perimeters
by professional applicators through trenching, drilling or rodding. Examples
include pyrethroids, as well as newer non-repellent insecticides such as Fipronil,
chlorantraniliprole, and imidacloprid.
4. Injections of insecticidal liquids, dusts or foams may be made directly to drywood
termite galleries or sometimes to shelter tubes of subterranean termites.
Desiccants, oils, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, fipronil, and many other active
ingredients may be used.
5. Whole-structure fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride may sometimes be necessary
when drywood termite infestation and damage are widespread.
6. Bait station systems can be effective in some cases, but may take several months
or even years to control the problem and must be followed up with constant
monitoring.

16. Thank You