Termites

Termites' Habitat and Behaviour

When we talk about termites, most of us will refer to them as 'white ants'.

Termites are actually beneficial insects in nature. They break down tough plant fibers, recycling dead, decaying trees and wood material into new soil. These insects are vital to the health of our forests and ecology. As they tunnel, termites also aerate and improve the soil. However, these tiny size insects become very destructive when they invade buildings and structures, especially subterranean termites, which nest underground. About 90% of termite-related damages in Singapore is caused by subterranean termite of Coptotermes sp. 

Types of termites: 

• Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes spp.)

• Drywood Termite (Cryptotermes spp.)

• Dampwood Termite (Neotermes spp.)

Damage

Subterranean termites can cause huge damage to houses and properties when they start to feed on the cellulose-based material from the building structure. The level of damage is often determined by the termite colony size and early detection of such infestation.

How do you know if your house is infested?

Mud Tubes: Presence of mud tubes from the ground to the infested wood. The tubes provide shelter for the foraging termites, maintaining a moist and dark environment to prevent desiccation.

Swarmers: Swarming termites are future kings and queens of a new colony. They are attracted to light. Therefore, swarmers are often found around lighting fixtures, windows, doors and vents indoors. Large numbers of discarded termite wings on windowsills, floors or spider webs are a sure sign of infestation nearby.

Wood Damage: Presence of dark patches or blisters in wood flooring. The galleries can be detected by tapping the wood every few inches with the handle of a screwdriver and listening for a hollow sound.

Subterranean Termites – Mud shelter tubes, when broken or disturbed, will reveal active termites within.

Drywood Termites – Small piles of fecal pellets pushed out of the holes of infested wood, resembling sand. These pellets are small, hard, dry, and uniform in shape.

Dampwood Termites – Small piles of fecal pellets are extruded from infested wood but they are soft, damp, and uniform in shape. Fortunately, Dampwood termites are not found in Singapore.

If I find termites (“white ants”) on my property, should I just spray them with a can of insecticide?

Termites look very much like little “white ants”, hence their local name. They look harmless because they do not bite (except for large outdoor Macrotermes species) but they are the most complex insect pest in Singapore. Getting rid of them with a can of insecticide will not eliminate the problem because a mature nest will have at least 1 million individuals and what you are eliminating will at most be 0.01% of the total number. Do not disturb the termites, their mud tube or their nest as it will complicate the treatment. Call in a credible pest management company immediately to eliminate the colony and arrest the damage to your property.