Many home and building owners have to deal with the threat of termites. While termite control may be an unfamiliar topic, it can help you understand how and why these pests enter buildings. Hilo Termite & Pest Control has provided safe and effective termite control to the Big Island for over 40 years. Below, they outline how colonies are formed. 

A Guide to Termite Colonies

Termite Roles

Much like ants, termites live in colonies and take on different roles throughout their life spans. These communities are comprised of a queen, king, soldiers, workers, and alates, or winged termites. A colony will have one pair of reproductives, the queen and king, who are solely responsible for reproducing and expanding the colony. They are fed by the workers and remain in the nest. A single pair of reproductives can live for up to 25 years, with the queen laying thousands of eggs per year.

Every termite has a specific job within the nest. The workers forage for food and maintain the nest. They can travel up to 250 feet from the nest to find wood. The soldiers defend the nest from invaders. These protectors are wingless and have larger jaws than other termites. Alates or swarmers are responsible for helping the queen populate the colony by laying eggs, which are fertilized by the king.

Adaptation & Leaving the Nest

Termite colonies usually mature in about three to six years. During this time, the swarmers form swarm castles near the original nest. The majority of these swarmers quickly lose their wings and die out. Surviving pairs become kings and queens and burrow into the ground, forming their colony. 

Termite Infestation Begins With a Mating Flight

After a termite colony matures, it releases male and female alates or swarmers during the spring and early summer. These male and female bugs pair up, eventually burrowing underneath the ground to form their settlement. The king and queen mate and produce thousands of eggs each year. Mature colonies typically contain 60,000 to 1 million insects.

Are you concerned that your home is infested with termites? Avoiding this infestation will preserve the structure and safety of your home. If you live on Oahu, contact the professional and caring staff at Hilo Termite & Pest Control. Call (808) 935-8301 to schedule service, and visit their website for more information.