Heterotermes ferox
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Heterotermes ferox
Effective Heterotermes ferox treatment solutions
- We reply within 24 Hours
- Safe, effective treatments
Heterotermes ferox
Heterotermes ferox
Characteristics
Heterotermes ferox is widespread across Australia but most often encountered in the southern part of the continent. This termite species will usually attack posts, poles, fences, and even the flooring of houses where some decay is present. Despite that, they are not considered a major pests that can cause significant damage to properties. Their caste system includes the following: queen, king, soldier, worker, and reproductive. The soldiers measure 3.5 to 7.5 mm in length and have prominent dark mandibles. Similar to the soldiers, the workers have long slender bodies. This species has a long rectangular head that is brown, while the body is white. In terms of their movement, they are slow movers and are not as courageous as the other species of termites.
Habitat
Heterotermes ferox do not build mounds; instead, they form small colonies adjacent to other termite species, they are usually found around logs and near rotting wood on the ground. This termite species is attracted to moist places and can be found indoors, next to leaky pipes and drainage areas. These termites can be found quickly compared to other termite species as they leave traces of a mud type mixture which is evidence on the places that they visited.
Lifecycle
Characterised by the metamorphosis stage, the lifecycle of this termite species starts from egg to nymph and finally to a full-grown adult, where they may become a worker, soldier, or winged reproductive. The nymph stage typically lasts for over two to three months, depending on the colony's conditions in terms of the climate and food supply. The queens and kings lead and build new colonies where they care for and feed the young until there are sufficient adult members of the castes.
Eating Habits
In terms of their eating habits, they consume wood and other wood products to extract cellulose. The workers do the foraging, and when they have eaten enough wood, they return to their colony and excrete the digested cellulose for the other termites to consume. As explained the Heterotermes ferox termite is a minor structural pest that eats soft timber structures, they can even eat some door frames and skirting boards in your house.
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