Termites are part of the ecosystem we live in and perform a very specific role in breaking down dead plant material on the forest floor. This is all well and good until they start feeding on the wood in our homes. That can interfere with the structural integrity of your home, so it’s important to protect yourself from termites. Your Tulsa exterminator can help if you’re having problems with termites.

Let’s take a look at termites and how they operate.

How Termites Grow and Live in Colonies

Termites are social insects that live in colonies and develop through incomplete metamorphosis. They start as eggs laid by the queen and hatch into immature termites that molt multiple times as they develop. Each molt sheds the old exoskeleton. Termites rely on microorganisms in their digestive systems to help break down cellulose in wood. After molting, some termites must replenish their gut microorganisms through trophallaxis, the exchange of food and gut contents with other colony members. This can include feeding from another termite’s hindgut.

Termite colonies have workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Workers do much of the feeding, tunneling, and care of the colony. Soldiers protect the colony, while reproductives produce offspring. Development into these roles is more complex than every nymph simply working until it is assigned a permanent caste, but each role supports the colony.

Signs of Subterranean Termites in Oklahoma

If you think you’re having a termite problem, it’s important to know the signs. Subterranean termites, including eastern subterranean termites, are found in Oklahoma. They need moisture to survive and are vulnerable to drying out. Underground, they can maintain a moist environment. When they travel above ground, they often build mud tubes along foundations, walls, or trees. These tubes help protect them from dry air and predators as they move.

If you see mud tubes, you may have a termite problem. Termites can also enter through cracks and gaps in foundations and build concealed tubes inside walls, so you may not see them right away. For more on identifying and managing termites, see Oklahoma State University Extension’s termite information and the EPA’s termite identification and control guidance.

Call TermMax Pest Control

If you think you’re having a problem with termites or any other pest control issue, it’s time to call a Tulsa exterminator. TermMax Pest Control can help you address the problem quickly and effectively. Call us today.