What you need to know about baby termites: In short, they are the devil’s spawn. The fact is that termites cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage to houses all across the United States of America.
And while knowing the signs of a termite infestation are quite crucial to protecting your home, understanding their babies is also necessary to understand the biology of this pest. Therefore, keep reading to understand baby termites, termite eggs, larvae, and termite nymphs!
What you need to know about baby termites
In this section of the article, I will tell you all about the rudimentary facts about a baby termite.
What do baby termites or termite nymphs look like?
Baby termites, also known as nymphs, are small and white. They have not yet developed the characteristics of their adult form, so they are relatively easy to miss. Nymphs will grow into adults after a number of molts, depending on the species.
In fact, baby termites are not pupae like adults. They are actually white and legless, and they lack the hardened head that is common in adult termites. Baby termites feed on their droppings until they are able to molt into nymphs, which will then start to eat wood.
When you see baby termites, it is a sign that there is an infestation. Baby termites, or nymphs, are very small and look like white ants. They can be found in your house or on a log in your backyard.
When a termite colony is left uncontrolled, the baby termites will eat all the wood in your home, causing extensive damage. They are very small, so they can be difficult to spot. Baby termites give off a disgusting smell and can cause large infestations.
A baby termite begins its life as an egg.
A baby termite begins its life as an egg. The eggs are small and white and measure about 1/16th of an inch. Further, these eggs are laid in colonies by the queen termite.
Once the eggs hatch, the babies (called larvae or nymphs) will eat their way through the wood until they reach adulthood.
They are laid in small groups in sheltered areas such as under logs or stones. Once the eggs hatch, the baby termites will join their parents and siblings in the colony.
What are the stages in a termite’s life cycle?
Termites go through a number of stages in their life cycle, and understanding these stages is key to understanding how to get rid of them.
The termite pest species’ life cycle is broken down into four stages: eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults.
Eggs are laid by the queen termites and are very small. Larvae are hatched from eggs and look like white grubs. Nymphs are immature termites that look like small versions of adults.
And finally, the adult termites are the ones that you see in your home and look like small ants.
The type of mature termite that a larval termite develops into is dependent on a variety of environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, food availability, and the species of termite.
These bugs will go through a series of molts before becoming adults and starting the process over again. Nymphs or baby termites eventually become either reproductive males or females or soldiers. The type of adult termite depends on the specific needs of the colony.
What do termite eggs look like exactly?
Termite eggs are small, white, and oval-shaped. They are often found in a protected nest where they are safe from predators. The eggs look like caviar and, obviously, are an important part of the termite life cycle.
Where does a baby termite end up in the termite colony?
When baby termites are born, they will go through a series of molts until they reach their adult form. Once they reach adulthood, they will become either worker, soldiers, or swarmers.
Swarmers are the reproductive caste of the termite colony and will leave to start new colonies elsewhere.
After they hatch, baby termites (known as swarmers) have one goal: to fly away and establish new colonies. Swarmers are unique in that they have wings, which allow them to travel long distances.
Once a swarm of swarmers locates a suitable spot, they will start the process of building a new colony.
Of the other baby termites that hatch, some will become soldiers, some will become workers, and some will become reproductive termites, also known as kings and queens.
Only a very small percentage of the baby termites will become queens, and they will lay eggs to start the next generation of termites.
Worker termites are the most common type of termite and are responsible for colony maintenance. Soldier termites defend the colony from predators and enemies. And the majority become swarmers and are included in the reproductive termite sect of the colony.
Can baby termites be harmful?
Baby termites are not harmful to structures. They are small and white in color, and they will become darker as they grow older. They do not have wings and cannot fly. But, they are signs of an impending threat and pervasive damage in your home.
The fact is that even though the baby termites are not harmful in a colony, as they grow older, they will become a curse to your house’s structure.
What I mean is that in the short run, baby termites are unlikely to be harmful. But, those very baby termites will grow to be extremely harmful.
Do baby termites sport wings?
At the early larval stage, baby termites do not have wings. They will grow their wings later on as they mature into adults.
Even when baby termites grow and develop wings, they are able to fly for a short time period. However, their wings will eventually fall off, and they will become workers or soldiers.
Most of the baby termites grow into adults that will shed their skin several times before becoming swarmers. Swarmers are the only ones in the colony that can use their wings and fly. They will leave the colony to mate and start new colonies.
Baby ants vs. baby termites – What’s the difference?
Baby ants and baby termites are both very small, but there are some key differences between them. Baby ants have a thin waist, and their heads and thorax are the same size.
Baby termites, on the other hand, have a thick waist, and their head is much larger than their thorax. Additionally, baby ants have antennae while baby termites do not.
Interestingly, baby termites grow into adults that look quite different than when they were babies. The winged reproductives are easily recognizable because of their large size and dark color.
Other castes, such as the soldiers and workers, remain white or pale yellow throughout their lives. Ants simply look like larger versions of their young selves.
Further, termites are a more destructive pest than ants, as they can damage the structural integrity of homes and buildings. In addition, termite colonies are much larger than ant colonies, so it takes a longer time for an infestation to be noticed.
Signs of Baby Termites:
Here are some obvious signs of baby termites –
Termite poop or droppings
Termite droppings are a key sign of an infestation. Termites consume wood and other cellulose materials to create their nests. As they do so, they excrete a waste product that resembles sawdust. This sawdust-like material is what we call termite droppings, or poop.
They can also look like sand and are usually found near where the termites live—usually in the soil, but sometimes on wooden beams or furniture.
Interestingly, the color of termite droppings can depend on the type of wood that they are eating. If they are feeding off of dark wood like mahogany, their droppings will be black. But if they are dining on light-colored wood, their droppings will be white.
Baby termites also build mud tubes.
Mud tubes are an important part of a termite’s life. They use the tubes to travel and find food. Baby termites build these tubes to protect themselves from predators and the elements. When checking for termites, it is important to also look for mud tubes.
Hollow and damaged walls
One sign that you may have a termite infestation in your home is if you notice that your walls are starting to hollow out or show damage. This is often caused by termites eating away at the wood in your home.
Now, where there are enough adult termites to cause this kind of damage to your walls, you can be sure that these pests are also spawning babies rapidly.
Fallen broken termite wings
When termites swarm, they leave their wings behind. This is a way for them to start new colonies.
Termites have two different types of wings- the front pair is shorter and wider, while the back pair are longer and thinner. If you find termite wings, it is important to beware and start an examination for termites or baby termites in your house.
Sounds of chewing from wooden furniture
If you’ve ever heard a sound like someone chewing their nails when you’re in an empty room, you might have been listening to termites. Termites make these sounds when they are consuming wood – it is the only way they can eat since they don’t have teeth.
Carpenter ants and termites cause similar damage to wooden furniture, both making chewing noises as they consume the wood.
However, carpenter ants are more easily identified as they construct nests in foam insulation or between the walls of a structure, whereas termites live underground and eat through the wood from the inside out.
How can you get rid of baby termites?
Now, the way to get rid of baby termites is more or less the same as those used to get rid of adult termites. Below, I have included some of the most effective ways to kill or get rid of baby termites. Keep reading!
Tenting for adult and baby termites
Tenting is a pest management process in which the structure that is to be treated is covered with a tent, and the gas is left inside.
The gas enters the structure’s afflicted region and kills all termites. It is, in essence, a gas chamber for termites. This is done as a treatment for houses that have an infestation of baby termites.
Although tenting is a more expensive process, it is the most effective way to get rid of pests in a short amount of time. The procedure normally takes three days and will kill any other pests that may be living in your home.
Baits and termiticide
Baiting is a slow and steady procedure used to eliminate termites over time. It involves placing bait near the termite colony and waiting for the termites to take the bait back to the colony.
Once there, the poison will slowly kill off the entire colony. Termiticide is a chemical that is also used to get rid of termites. It is sprayed on or injected into the ground around buildings where termites are known to be active.
There are a variety of termiticides on the market, each with its own unique set of benefits and drawbacks. Therefore, make sure you scour the market for a product that meets your specific needs and situation well!
Tide dishwashing soap and orange oil DIY technique
There are many DIY ways to get rid of termites, but one of the easiest and most affordable is to use dishwashing soap and orange oil.
Mix the detergent and orange oil together in a spray bottle, and then spray it around the house. The detergent will kill the termites, and the orange oil will help to prevent them from coming back.
Termites are a common pest in the United States, and they can cause a lot of damage to your home if they’re not treated.
A bar of dishwashing soap and orange oil DIY technique can help you get rid of termites, but you will need to do this for as long as it takes. If your termite infestation is out of control, call a pest control company for help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, baby termites are not quite as bad as adult termites are. However, you can be sure that they will grow up to be adult termites. Therefore, make sure you address the presence of even baby termites in your house with grave seriousness.