about Termites

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=115 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12fc8c83.gif"> <div> <B> </B><IMG SRC="12ef84b0.gif" border=0 width="760" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home/Start"><U>home</U></A> |  about Termites   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Quick Inspection"><U>Quick Inspection</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Treatment Options"><U>Treatment Options</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Guarantees"><U>Guarantees</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hiring a Termite Co."><U>Hiring a Termite Co.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles"><U>Articles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12fc8c83.gif"> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="143bc720.gif" border=0 width="188" height="114" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=365 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12fc8c83.gif"> <div> <I>about Termites</I></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="450" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 26 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="164c2140.gif" border=0 width="450" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="183f67b0.gif" border=0 width="246" height="123" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="10" VSPACE="0">We know that subterranean termite colonies are numerous.</B>  While it is impossible to know how many termites there are in a colony, every body agrees that there are lots of termites.  There are probably as many termites in your yard as there are ants.  Some colonies are young and small, just starting out, while others are well established, feeding and growing.</div> <div>   </div> <div> <B>Regardless of the size of the Colony</B>, all Colonies need the basics for survival, food sources, moisture and climate.  Conditions here in Georgia and Alabama are ideal for subterranean termite colonies. </div> <div>   </div> <div> <B>Subterranean termites are social insects.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="186bf5c0.gif" border=0 width="191" height="92" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Queen</B> lives deep within the Colony. She is the cheif egg producer and is the center of the termite community.   </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="18799320.gif" border=0 width="153" height="50" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Nymphs</B> are young termites who tend to the nurseries and perform other colony duties. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="184ad5b0.gif" border=0 width="173" height="91" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Secondary reproductives</B> [swarmers]</div> <div> These swarmers are the termites seen flying from the colony nest in the Spring and Fall.  Each swarmer produces a small number of eggs to add to the Queens total.   When fully mature they swarm out of the nest and begin another colony.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="18578610.gif" border=0 width="120" height="97" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Worker Termites</B> do the foraging and feeds the colony.  This is the one that does the damage to your home.  He has the reputation of being a tireless worker.  He arrives early and works late, the ideal worker.  When this termite isn't bringing back pieces of your home to the colony to feed on, he is foraging for new food sources. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="188727e0.gif" border=0 width="114" height="126" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Soldier Termites</B> guard and protect the colony from outside predators, usually from ants.  This Termite is extremely capable in a fight.  Notice his mandible weapons and that it's head is heavily armored.  If you attacked him in a confined space, like a termite tunnel, you would be attacking this great armored head.  I have personally watched one brave Termite Soldier warrior make his last stand in protecting the colony.  He fought as he backed up and I watched him kill three ants, cutting one in half before he was overwhelmed by numbers.  This solider is a good defensive weapon and a jealous protector of the termite colony.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>