Dampwood Termites:
Dampwood termites make up a distinct habitat group. Dampwood termites locate their colonies in damp, often decaying wood; but, once established, they can extend their activities into sound and even relatively dry wood. They enter wood directly at the time of swarming and always confine their work to wood. They are occasionally responsible for serious damage to wooden structures, usually in conjunction with fungus attack, since the moisture requirements of both are similar.
Flights (swarming) of the dampwood termites usually occur at dusk. Some flights occur throughout the entire year; however, peak annual swarming takes place in late summer and fall.
The winged reproductives of dampwood termites may be an inch or more long, including the wings; the wings are from 7/8-inch to 1 inch long. The body is light cinnamon-brown; the wings are light to dark brown, heavily veined, and leathery in appearance. The soldiers are 3/8- to 3/4-inch long, depending on the instar in which they assumed their typical soldier characteristics. This varies with the age of the colony, which is somewhat true of many species of termites. As with other members of this family, there is no worker class. The nymphs are about 1/2-inch long.
Dampwood termites make up a distinct habitat group. Dampwood termites locate their colonies in damp, often decaying wood; but, once established, they can extend their activities into sound and even relatively dry wood. They enter wood directly at the time of swarming and always confine their work to wood. They are occasionally responsible for serious damage to wooden structures, usually in conjunction with fungus attack, since the moisture requirements of both are similar.
Flights (swarming) of the dampwood termites usually occur at dusk. Some flights occur throughout the entire year; however, peak annual swarming takes place in late summer and fall.
The winged reproductives of dampwood termites may be an inch or more long, including the wings; the wings are from 7/8-inch to 1 inch long. The body is light cinnamon-brown; the wings are light to dark brown, heavily veined, and leathery in appearance. The soldiers are 3/8- to 3/4-inch long, depending on the instar in which they assumed their typical soldier characteristics. This varies with the age of the colony, which is somewhat true of many species of termites. As with other members of this family, there is no worker class. The nymphs are about 1/2-inch long.