Do You Think You Have Termites?
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Termites are considered to be the most destructive insect pests in the world. Many buildings and structures are damaged by these pests each year resulting in huge financial losses.
There are various different species of termites in South Africa but only a handful cause problems to properties:
Of the above, it is the Coptotermes and Cryptotermes species that are the termites that cause the most damage.
The basic castes in a colony are queens, kings, workers, soldiers and alates.
Family: Rhinotermitidae (subfamily Coptotermitidae)
Genus: Coptotermes
Type: Subterranean.
Castes: Queen, king, soldier, worker, reproductive.
Nest type:
Distribution: Although found predominantly in Gauteng and the Western Cape, these termites are widely spread throughout South Africa.
This is one of the most destructive termite species in South Africa. It attacks all timber structures in buildings and damages trees.
Family: Kalotermitidae (subfamily Cryptotermes)
Genus: Cryptotermes
Type: Drywood
Castes: Queen, king, soldier, reproductive.
Nest type: Dry wood termites live inside wood. If a piece of lumber is infested with dry wood termites, the whole colony is sealed inside that wood.
Distribution: Although found predominantly in KwaZulu Natal, these termites can be found throughout South Africa.
If a piece of lumber is infested with dry wood termites, the whole colony is sealed inside that wood. Galleries are eaten from the inside out until all that is left is the outside shell of the wood, making a dry wood termite infestation very hard to detect.
Activity is usually detected when is too late and usually requires a piece of the wooden structure to be replaced as well as a large part to be treated.
Family: Kalotermitidae (subfamily Neotermes)
Genus: Neotermes
Type: Dampwood
Castes: Queen, king, soldier, worker, reproductive.
Nest type: Dampwood termites generally live in damp rotting logs or rotten pockets in dead or living trees.
Distribution: These termites can be found throughout South Africa, infesting wood with high moisture content.