How Quickly can Termites Take Over?

Since we established our pest control company in 1966, ABC Exterminating has helped many clients eliminate their termite problems. With termites, the key to successful removal is to act quickly. While these small, winged insects might not seem like a big deal if you notice just one or two, they can quickly become a significant problem, with severe repercussions to your home’s stability.

We offer over 50 years of experience servicing the Connecticut and New York Westchester counties, and are proud to have been able to help our clients eliminate these problematic insects efficiently.

Exactly how important is it to seek immediate help with termites? To understand that, you need to understand the life cycle of these insects. Termites are colonizing insects, with rapid breeding and growth cycles. This means that a small problem can quickly become a very large problem.

The Life and Breeding Cycle of a Termite

While the queen and king of a termite colony are typically the only ones to mate and produce eggs, it’s important to know that the queen termite is capable of laying hundreds to thousands of eggs per day. Once these eggs hatch, they enter the larval stage. Generally, after three molts, the larva is ready to join the colony as a fully-grown termite.

Science hasn’t yet deduced what makes some termite larvae develop into specific types of termites. All larva has the capacity to become one of three types of termites found in colonies: workers, soldiers or secondary reproducers.

That’s right. Once the eggs hatch, of those hundreds of thousands of eggs laid daily, there are others that reproduce and grow the colony. These termites may leave to form their own colony or stay within their colony and lay eggs along with the queen.

The lifespan of an average, worker, reproducer or soldier termite can be 12 to 24 months, while the queen can live in her colony for up to 25 years.

How Large is the Average Termite Colony?

Termite colonies can hold thousands or even millions of members. Each of these colonies, due to the massive population of the group, are capable of doing extreme damage. In an average year, a termite colony will move the equivalent of 550 pounds of material as they excavate, consume and tunnel through soil and dry wood.

Given the fact that the queen lays hundreds of eggs per day, it doesn’t take long for a termite colony to be established and become capable of causing major damage within your home.

If you notice any signs of termites, such as the insects themselves, mud tunnels on your exterior walls or a tapping sound coming from your interior walls, it’s imperative to contact us right away.