How Small Can Termites Get?
WouterTermites come in a variety of sizes and colors. Some are very small, while others can be very large. Knowing which type of termite is in your home is important. A termite infestation can be dangerous to your property. They eat wood and other materials and return nutrients back to the soil. While they rarely bite people or animals, they can cause damage to buildings and homes.
Termites usually come in two sizes: adult and larvae. Adults range from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in length and are often white, brown, or black. Some termites can be as large as an inch. However, most are between 1/8 and an inch in size.
A termite swarm is a mass of winged reproductives that take flight. During a swarm, these reproductives leave their nests to infest other wood. They are nourished by worker termites. When a colony grows to maturity, many hundreds of thousands of alates emerge.
Termites are very difficult to spot. They can be found in dead stumps and wood piles. Using a magnifying glass can help you find them. They have long legs, distinctive heads, and arms that are identifiable. They are also very tiny, averaging tenth of an inch in length. During a swarm, a termite may fly up to kilometer away.
A mature termite colony can produce up to a million reproductives. It can be hard to detect the presence of a termite swarm because they can be confused with flying ants. It is also important to note that termites do not typically bite humans.
