Termites
( Reticulitermes flavipes for the Subterranean termite )

The name Termite comes from the Latin word: woodworm.
We can distinguish on the island two types of Termites.
The Subterranean termite and the Blackhead termite.
More common is the Subterranean termite. All termites feed on
materials that contain cellulose. These are: dead wood and by-products
of wood. The Subterranean termite need not only food but also water.
These termites need moisture to survive.

We sometimes are under the impression that Termites and Ants are family.
That's not true. Ant belong to the family Hymenoptera while the Termite to
Isoptera family. Ants have thinner waist, shorter wings. The wings of an Ant
( if she have one ) is the same length as it's body. The wings of a Termite is
twice as long as it's body.

The body caracteristics of termites in a colony is as follows:
Winged Termites, wings are absent in reproductive caste.
Workers that can't see but have good chewing mouthparts.
Soldiers with large heads and big strong mouthparts.
Soldier's duty is to defend the colony.

Conditions:
Subterranean termites will not go out for food when the soil temperatures are
either too hot or too cold.
The Subterranean termites ( workers are blind ) walk in a tunnel.
These tunnels ( 6 mm ) are visible in your home when you are about
to be infested.
The reason these Termites walk in these tunnels is because they can not exposed
their soft body to the conditions of the wind or dry air. Termites quickly dry out when
they walk unprotected outside.

Pictures:
First above: Workers doing repair on their home after a heavy rain damage.
Second: Workers caring for the young.
Third: Picture of a Blackhead termite.