Introduction
Termites are actually one of the oldest known species of insects — they've inhabited the world for more than 250 million years. Wood being their preferred food invites them into homes and buildings. Once they invade a space they have the potential to eat away the entire structure. Apart from their feeding preferences, there are many other facts about them which are not as well known. Here are some interesting termite facts you may not have been aware of.
#1. Termites Are Cockroaches
As bizarre as this may sound, it is true. Termites really are cockroaches who happen to have a fancy social life compared to other cockroach species. We've always been led to believe they are merely "white ants" but they aren't. Discussion and research on termites being roaches has been going on for decades. As soon as scientists discovered ways to use DNA to figure out genealogical relationships, they found that termites are cockroaches which have evolved over time to develop specific social behavior.
#2. Their Total Mass Outweighs Humans
Termites plague earth in huge numbers, even beyond our imagination. Research has proven that the sheer mass of termites can easily outweigh humans on earth. Rough estimates suggest there are approximately 1,000 pounds of termites on earth for every 1 person. Experts estimate their combined weight at a single time to be 445 million tons, while humans weigh around 350 million tons.
#3. They Never Sleep
Insects suffer from insomnia too, especially termites. These pests never sleep, not once in their entire life. This allows these hard-working insects to work and devour wood 24/7 and 365 days a year. As their only job in life is to eat, they keep on munching until they die. This is the sole reason they are so destructive for wooden structures — because they never take a break!
#4. Some Live Up to 20 Years
An average worker termite lives for a couple of years, while queen termites can live up to 20 years. Queens of some species are even known to live for 30–50 years. Queen termites constantly lay eggs, and their long lifespans mean their numbers grow at an alarming rate.
#5. Termites Feed on Each Other's Feces
Termites need specific bacteria to digest wood which is present in their gut, but not available at the time of birth. In order to get this bacteria, they engage in trophallaxis — the practice of ingesting the feces of adult termites. They take in microbes which prepare their guts for wood-eating.
#6. Termite Fathers Help Raise Their Young
Unlike bees and other pests, male termites don't exist just for mating. They carry out their share of responsibilities in their mound. They help the queen in fertilizing eggs, share parental duties, and fulfill the nourishment needs of their young by feeding them pre-digested food.
#7. Detrimental Pests
Termites are also known as "silent destroyers" because a majority of the damage they cause occurs without our knowledge. The moment you start seeing signs of a termite infestation, they have already done a vast amount of damage. Every year, an estimated 5 billion dollars in property damage is caused by termites.
#8. Well Groomed
Unlike most pests, termites are hygiene freaks and are extremely picky about their grooming. They spend a large portion of their day on cleaning and grooming themselves and their young ones. By constantly cleaning themselves, they keep parasites and bacteria away, allowing them to stay healthy and live longer.
#9. Massive Egg-Laying Capacity
Termite queens have a huge egg-laying capacity. Some species can lay 15–25 eggs per minute, totaling around 40,000 eggs in a single day — that's an egg every 15 seconds. Some queens, like those belonging to the family Termitidae, lay 10 million eggs in a year!
#10. Picky Eaters
Even though termites continually munch on wood around-the-clock, this doesn't mean they'll consume anything they come across. They are very specific about the wood they eat. Using resonant frequency to determine the size of the wood, they assess through vibration recordings which wood to infest. They possess special sense organs which let them sense vibrations and decide about their food source.
If you are experiencing a termite infestation, contact Rest Easy Pest Control at 888-927-9842. Our termite treatment experts will be able to assist you with any and all of your needs.