You’ll be surprised by some of these fun termite facts (especially #9). Impress your neighbors, use as conversation starters at parties, and proudly proclaim that your home is termite-free because you called YardDoc for termite treatment!
1
Termite fossils date back to the Early Cretaceous Period (145 - 66 million years ago). This means there were termites on Earth at the same time as the dinosaurs! If you want to check out some awesome dinosaur fossils in Austin, visit the Dino Pit Museum.
2
The total weight of all the termites in the world is more than the total weight of all the people!
3
Evidence of termites or their fossils has been found on all continents, except Antarctica.
4
Termites almost never bite people. Soldier termites might bite if you are disturbing their nest, but even then, it's doubtful you'll get a pinch.
5
Termite colony members are divided into three castes, each with its own role to help support the household. Similar to ants and wasps, termites are eusocial insects, meaning they cooperatively care for their young and have jobs in society.
6
The termite workers build the home and process food, while soldiers protect the nest. The queen, king, and their attendants are the reproductive members of the colony. A Formosan termite queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs per day, producing colonies of up to 1,000,000 termites!
7
Termite queens are some of the longest living insects, alive and well for 30 to 50 years!
8
People eat termites in places like South America, Asia, and Africa for their health benefits! Termites contain up to 38% protein and are rich in calcium, iron, and essential fatty and amino acids.
9
If you're discussing termite facts with someone interested in bug flavors, this one's a doozy. Researchers say raw termites taste like pineapple!
10
Termites cause more damage to homes in a year than all tornadoes, hurricanes, and windstorms combined.
11
Did you know termite colonies have royalty? A team of researchers at Texas A & M is one of the groups studying the royal class in termite colonies. Since the king and queen produce the eggs, they are hoping to find ways to stop termite colonies by eliminating the heads of the royal family.
12
Mounding termites of Africa, Australia, and South America can build huge complexes with mounds reaching 26 to 29 feet tall and a diameter of 30 feet. But don’t worry, there are no mounding termites in Texas.
Know thy enemy. You can never learn enough termite facts. The Texas Insect site has detailed information regarding termite species, behaviors, signs of infestations, and more.
Termites cause more property damage every year than tornadoes, hurricanes, and windstorms combined! YardDoc recommends an annual termite inspection as part of your ongoing pest control services. May and June are particularly good times to inspect your property for termites. You can even discuss termite facts with us as we work on your home!
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