Wood Destroying Insects

Termites

There are about 50 species of termites found in the United States. The most common in our area is the Eastern Subterranean Termite. These termites usually colonize in the ground between the frost line and the water table. Mature colonies have 60,000 plus members that consists of workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Workers are about 3/16” long, creamy white with slightly darker heads. They construct the colony and forage for food. Soldiers are also creamy white but have a much larger and darker head and visible “pinchers”. They defend the colony. Last but defiantly not least are the reproductives. A mature colony will have primary and secondary reproductives.

The winged primary reproductives (called alates or “swarmers”) are dark, about 3/8” long including the wings which are clear to milky white. Sometimes termite winged reproductives get confused with ant winged reproductives. If it looks like an ant with wings then it probably is an ant with wings. An ant has three distinct body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. A termite winged reproductive has the appearance of having only one body part with wings twice as long as the body.Termites may enter the home through wood- to- ground contact, by constructing “mud tubes” to their food source, or by coming through a small crack in the floor or foundation. Mud tubes on the side of block walls are a sure sign of termite activity.

Termites construct these tubes to protect them from the environment and predators. Sand found in damaged wood is a sign of possible termite damage. Winged reproductive swarmers are also a sign of a termite problem. Termite swarmers in the home means there are termites feeding on your home. Termites usually swarm in the spring in large numbers but there may be smaller swarms throughout the year.There are a few treatment options for a termite infestation. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. This is not a do- it-yourself job. There are structural, environmental, and financial considerations when determining what type of treatment is best for you.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants may vary in color from brown, red, to black but are usually blackish in color in West Michigan. Their size may range from 1/8” to 1/2” in length. Carpenter ants construct two different kinds of nests; parent colonies, which when mature contain an egg-laying queen, brood, and 2000 or more worker ants, and satellite colonies which may have a large number of worker ants but no queen, eggs, or larvae.Carpenter ants may establish colonies inside and/or outside the structure. Carpenter ants found inside a structure may have originated from the parent colony located outdoors in a tree, tree stump, landscaping timbers, woodpiles, or one or more satellite nests hidden behind a wall. Carpenter ants prefer to nest in wood that has been damaged by water or fungi.

Carpenter ants do not feed on the wood but hollow it out for nesting. Wood that has been damaged by carpenter ants contains no mud-like material as is the case with termites. Shredded fragments of wood similar in appearance to course sawdust called frass are ejected from galleries through slits made by the ants or preexisting cracks. When such accumulations are found it is a good indication that a carpenter ant nest is near. Unfortunately, all too often the frass is hidden behind a wall or in another concealed area.The best way to control carpenter ants is to find and destroy the nests. It takes experience, skill, and a little bit of luck to determine where carpenter ants are nesting. It also takes experience and skill to determine what type of products to use, when and where to use them for successful elimination of carpenter ants in the structure.

Acrobatic worker ants range from 1/6” to 1/8” long. When disturbed they will raise their heart shaped abdomen over their thorax and head, thus the name acrobatic ants. These ants prefer to nest in wood that has been damaged by water or decay much like carpenter ants. These ants also like to nest in styrofoam insulation. Acrobatic ants can be difficult to control because of the location of their nests. Specialized baits, dusts, and non-repellant insecticides work best in controlling these ants.

Acrobatic Ants

Powder Post Beetles

Image © Pest and Disease Image Library/Bugwood.com

There are three common groups of powder post beetles; Lyctids, Anobiids, and Bostrichids. Since you rarely see the adult beetles or its larvae, identification depends on the type of wood that has been damaged and moisture content of the wood. Wood damaged by these beetles will have many tiny holes the size of pinheads in it. The resulting sawdust or frass will be a very fine powder.Treatment of these beetles depends on the damaged wood having an active infestation. To tell if you have an active infestation, all the existing frass should be cleaned up and any holes that can be found should be sealed up.

Place a white sheet or cloth under the damaged wood and check back in a few days. If new frass and exit holes are found, then an active infestation is present. Removing the infested wood is the preferred method of control but it is usually not practical. Localized treatment of the wood is also acceptable if the wood is exposed. Sometimes the damage is so great and in an inaccessible area, a fumigation is necessary to achieve the desired results.There are other insects that will attack wood such as carpenter bees (mentioned elsewhere in this web site), wood borers and wood wasps. Please call us if you need help in identifying the pest problem or in eliminating the pest problem.

Common Rodents

Mice

The most common mouse encountered inside structures is the House Mouse. They are not only a nuisance but can cause damage or contamination through chewing, urine or droppings. In addition, they can chew on electrical wiring, creating a fire hazard.Mice are prolific breeders, reaching sexual maturity in just over a month. They average about eight litters per year and females can have a new litter about every 40 -50 days. One female mouse will give birth to an average of 30 – 35 female mice in a year. In other words, it doesn’t take long for populations to get out of hand. Life expectancy for the House Mouse is generally about 1 year due to a number of factors but they can live up to 6 years.

Contrary to popular belief, the mouse’s favorite food is not cheese. In fact, this belief is so common; there are even snap-traps available with triggers that resemble yellow cheese. While these color-blind rodents will eat just about anything from frozen meat to fruits, they prefer nuts and seeds. Over a one year period, a mouse will eat approximately 4 pounds of food, produce about 18,000 droppings, and void about 12 ounces of urine. Their droppings can transmit organisms such as tapeworms and infectious jaundice, as well as indirectly transfer illnesses or irritations from the mites or fleas that travel on the mouse.

The Shoreline Solution: Mice are excellent climbers and often infest an attic after gaining access to wall voids from ground level. They can also find many places to nest in basements. Control generally consists of trapping mice in these key areas, using a variety of traps. Poison baits are generally avoided in a home setting due to potential accidental poisoning of children or pets and the likelihood of mice dying where their decomposing bodies cannot be reached. A minimum of 3 visits is generally needed.

Rats

The most common rat in this part of the country is the Norway Rat. Like the mouse, Rats damage and destroy property by gnawing, eating and defecating. Rats are also responsible for transmission of a variety of diseases.Considerably larger than a mouse, the rat is generally about 12 to 14 inches from head to tip of the tail. They can weigh anywhere from about 7 to 18 ounces. Unlike the house mouse, rats are generally found outdoors in burrows commonly dug next to buildings or in earthen banks. Their fur is thick and oily which often leaves a tell-tale stain when entering or exiting a particular area. They are largely nocturnal and quite cautious.Rats are not as curious to try new foods as the mouse, often avoiding poison bait for a period of time. They prefer meat, fish and animal proteins found in items such as pet food.Rats reach sexual maturity in 2 to 5 months, having an average of 3 to 6 litters per year. Norway rats generally live to about one year but can live much longer under ideal circumstances.

Rats are generally associated with filthy or poverty conditions but are plenty happy living elsewhere if food and water are readily available. They can transmit a variety of diseases such as typhus (through fleas on the body), infectious jaundice, trichinosis and salmonella.

The Shoreline Solution: Due to their cautious behavior, rats can be tricky to get under control. Traps and poison baits need to be placed very carefully after extensive inspection and planning.

Opossums

What does an Opossum look like?

An opossum is a whitish or grayish mammal about the size of a house cat. Its face is long and pointed its ears rounded and hairless with a ratlike tail. The opossum is the only marsupial (with pouch) located in North America. Opossums usually live alone and are active only at night. When threatened, an opossum may bare its teeth, growl, hiss, bite, and exude a smelly, greenish fluid from its anal glands. If these defenses are not successful, an opossum may play dead. They are expert swimmers and climbers.

What about their babies?

Opossums have 2-3 litters per year, with an average of seven young per litter. The young are born 13 days after mating. They are about the size of a navy bean when they are born, and will nurse in the mother’s pouch for up to 60 days. Most “joeys” die during their first year. The maximum age in the wild is about 7 years.

Do Opossums hibernate?

Opossums do not hibernate. They remain active through all seasons.

Woodchucks

What does a Woodchuck look like?

The woodchuck, a member of the squirrel family, is also known as the “ground hog” or “whistle pig.” It is usually grizzled brownish gray and its tail is short, well furred, and dark brown. Woodchucks are diurnal, (active during daylight hours), solitary, and are occasionally found climbing trees. Like other rodents, woodchucks have white or yellowish-white, chisel-like incisor teeth.

The woodchuck’s compact, chunky body is supported by short strong legs. Its front feet have long, curved claws that are well adapted for digging burrows. Groundhogs excavate their own holes or burrows within minutes. They develop complex burrows and tunnel networks for shelter and escape routes. These burrows provide the woodchuck a home for mating, raising young, hibernation, and protection from threats and predators. Woodchucks usually range only 50 to 150 feet from their den.

Wood Destroying Insects

Common Rodents

Opossums

Woodchucks

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