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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.
The main species of termites in Hong Kong
Drywood termite
Found inside dry wood, usually in structural timbers in buildings. These termites are less reliant on moisture sources and do not need to forage in the soil.
Dampwood termite
- Feeds on decayed woods such as fallen trees and rotting logs.
- Subterranean termite (the most common and serious)
- Most commonly found termite in this region; it nests in soil from which it derives moisture.
Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites are social insects which live in colonies; these colonies are usually very large, with hundreds of thousands occupants. They primarily live below the soil surface and generally enter structures undetected via hidden pathways (as thin as a hairline crack) in foundation walls and floors.
Within a termite colony, there are different castes to represent the division of labour among the individuals. There are the king, queen, alates (or swarmers), reproductives, soldiers and workers with each caste performing a certain function in the running of the colony.
Termite Society
The basic castes in a colony are queens, kings, workers, soldiers and alates.
Termite Queen & King——Giving life to the colony
The function of the Queen and King in the termite colony is to reproduce. Starting out life as an Alate, they leave their parents' colony, drop to the ground and shed their wings to seek out an environment to nest. They care for their young until they are able to take over the duties of the colony.
Termite Workers——The 'doers'
The workers make up the largest number within a colony. They do all of the work (except defend and reproduce): feeding, grooming, excavating the nest and making tunnels. In doing their jobs, they cause the destruction that effects so many homes.
Termite Soldiers——The colony's defence
Soldiers defend the colony against attack by predatory enemies such as ants, and are equipped with large jaws, sticky fluids or chemical spray to do so.
Flying termites——The future Queens & Kings
Alates are the winged reproductives that swarm out from the nest and establish new colonies. Male and females pair off and look for a suitable environment to mate. They are often confused with ant swarmers.
It is important to learn more about the similarities and differences between flying ants and termites and how and why to identify pest species.
Termite-pedia
Subject
Coptotermitidae
Genus
Coptotermes
Life Preferences
Underground
Family Members
Queen Ant, King Ant, Soldier Ant, Worker Ant, Flying Ant
Behaviour
Milk termites have high requirements for humidity, so they build their nests in the soil. Termites build mud tubes when foraging because they become dry and uncomfortable when exposed to air. The cellulose is broken down into starch with the help of microorganisms in the gut of the termite.
How long does it take for termite eggs to hatch?
Due to the above division of labour, each termite caste has very specific roles that do not overlap with each other. For example, a soldier termite is solely in charge of defense and will not forage for food or lay eggs.
In addition, termite eggs take around 26 to 30 days to hatch into nymphs, meaning that an infestation will happen rapidly. As a result, specialised termite treatment often includes treating all castes in order to fully eliminate an infestation.
Have you ever seen these termite species?
Termites can feed 24/7 throughout the year. This means they are constantly eating and damaging woodwork. If left untreated, termites can damage the wood structure of a home, leading to tremendus losses.
Spotted signs of termite breeding? There are steps you can take to get rid of a termite infestation, but we strongly recommend that you contact a professional exterminator immediately. Rentokil Initial has more than 60 years of experience in termite prevention in Hong Kong, providing one-stop termite pest control services. Take a look at our customer testimonials and learn about their stories with Rentokil Initial.
Please call +85229546888 to contact us or leave a message online for consultation. Our termite experts will arrange on-site termite inspection services for your residential or commercial premises depending on the actual situation.
Termite Control Services
Protecting Hong Kong homes and businesses from termites for over 50 years
- Safe, effective, environmentally-friendly pest control
- A broad range of termite management options to suit your home and business needs
- With local, accredited pest controllers, we provide a rapid-response service across Hong Kong