Termites can damage the structure and foundation of a house. If you find termite larvae in a building, this may indicate that the building is inhabited by termites. Termite larvae can be identified by their shape, color, and size. Generally, termite larvae can be found with worker termites in their colonies. In order not to be confused with other insects, it is important for you to recognize the features and characteristics of this annoying pest.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Analyzing Termites
Step 1. Check the shape of the body
Termite larvae have soft bodies and do not have hard shells. The shape of the head of the termite larva is very different from the body. Termite larvae have 6 legs. The antennae of termite larvae are straight.
- Termite larvae are similar in shape to worker termites and nymphs, but are much smaller in size.
- The body shape of termites is similar to that of an ant. However, ants have slimmer waists, while termites have straighter and softer bodies. Unlike the bent antennae of ants, termites' antennae are straight
Step 2. Pay attention to the color of the termite larvae
Termite larvae are white and almost translucent. Remember, worker termites and nymphs are almost the same color. Therefore, color is not a sufficient indicator to distinguish termite larvae from worker termites or nymphs.
- If the termite's body is pale white but its head is darker, the insect may be an adult army termite.
- If the termite is dark in color, such as brown or black, it may be a bookworm or an ant. If it has wings, it's probably a female termite.
Step 3. Measure the termite
Most termite larvae have a body length of 2.5 mm. Adult worker termites have a body length of 6.4 mm, Some female termites have a body length of 13 mm. However, if the insect you are measuring is longer than the female termite, it is probably not a termite.
Termite larvae are the same size as their eggs. Termite eggs are very small and white in color. Termite eggs can be quite difficult to find because they are usually placed deep in the colony. Therefore, if you find larvae around a pile of termite eggs, compare their sizes. If they are the same size, the larvae are termite larvae
Method 2 of 3: Finding Termite Larvae
Step 1. Identify adult termites
If you find an adult termite, there may be termite larvae in the colony. Despite their variety, adult termites can be identified by their pale, soft body. Worker termites and nymphs have larger bodies than termite larvae. Army termites have hard, dark heads. Only female termites can lay eggs and have wings.
Step 2. Check the areas where termites are common
You may need professional help to find termites, but you can do this yourself. Check window sills, door sills, support beams, and wooded areas. Also check the basement, under, and under the veranda. Use a flashlight to check for gaps and dark places.
Remember, termites often live inside walls. Termites can also stay indoors for years without being noticed. Just because the presence of termites is not obvious, does not mean that your house is not inhabited by termites
Step 3. Listen to the wall
Use a screwdriver to gently tap a wooden surface or wall. Watch for rustling or hollow spaces in the wood. This can indicate that there are animals or insects living in it.
Step 4. Open the termite slurry tube
Generally, termites build mud tubes to move from one place to another. Mud tubes generally look like tree branches or mud extending into the walls or foundation of a house. You can open the mud canister to look for termites. Remember, if the mud canister is empty, termites may be in other areas of your home.
Step 5. Call a pest control service
Termites can live in hard to reach places. Termite larvae are also generally placed in the most protected part of the nest. Consult a pest control service to find out how severe the termite problem in your home is. Pest control services can identify various types of pests and termite larvae.
The best way to find out what pests are inhabiting your home is to catch them in jars. Show this pest to a pest control service
Method 3 of 3: Differentiating Termite Larvae from Other Insects
Step 1. Compare ants to termite larvae
Adult ants and termites are very difficult to distinguish. The larvae of these two species are very different. To determine which species of larva you have found, try observing the larvae.
- Termite larvae are smaller than adult worker termites or nymphs. Termite larvae have segmented heads, legs and antennae.
- Ant larvae look like caterpillars. It has no legs or eyes. The head is also not segmented. The body of the ant larvae is covered with fine hairs.
Step 2. Identify the characteristics of a nerd
Like termite larvae, bookworms are small and white in color. Book lice can grow up to 1, 6 or 3.2 mm in length. Bookworms don't eat wood, but they do eat mold that grows on wood, books, and things that are textured like flour in a humid environment.
- If the wood in your home is not damaged, the pests in your home may not be termite larvae but bookworms. To be sure, take some of the insects you find to an animal control service.
- Book lice are commonly found in books, newspapers, moldy food and flour, old wallpaper, cardboard, and other paper products. In contrast, termites are usually found on walls, logs, stumps, under crevices, and other woody areas.
Step 3. Make sure that the wood damage is caused by beetles
Termites are not the only insects that eat wood. Wood beetles have very different characteristics from termites. The wood beetle has a dark, hard body and is covered with fine hairs. The wood beetle larvae are white and shaped like the letter C. The wood beetle has a spine on its back.
The best way to tell the difference between wood beetles and termites is to contact a pest control service. Pest control services can identify the type of pest based on the pattern of wood damage in your home
Step 4. Make sure the larvae you find are not maggots
Maggots are larvae that will grow into flies and not termites. Like termites, maggots have soft white bodies. In addition, maggots do not have a conspicuous head. Although conspicuous, the head of the maggot will still not be clearly visible. Maggots may have legs, but their bodies are shaped like pipes.
Maggots can usually be found in decaying objects, such as stale food or dead plants
Tips
- Termite larvae will starve to death when all worker termites die. Pest control services may be able to remove termite larvae by destroying the colony.
- Nematodes are parasites that do not harm humans and like to eat termite larvae. You may be able to get rid of termite larvae by spraying the nematodes over the termite-infested area.
- If you find adult termites, termite larvae may be found in the colony or in the house.
- If you have termite larvae in your home, you will need to find a way to get rid of the termite colony. Contact pest control services..
