How to Identify Termite Larvae

Thứ bảy - 27/04/2024 01:15

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Termites can pose a serious risk to the structure and foundation of your home. The presence of termite larvae in particular may indicate if the building is infested or not. Termite larvae can be identified by their shape, color, and size. They are often found with worker termites deep within termite colonies. That said, they can mistaken for other insects, so it is important to understand the features and qualities of this particular pest.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Examining the Termite

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Inspect their shape. Larvae have soft bodies instead of a hard, outer shell. They have a distinct head from the rest of their body as well as six legs. Their antennae are straight.^{[1] X Research source}
- Termite larvae tend to look extremely similar to worker and nymph termites, except for their size. Larvae are much smaller than workers and nymphs.
- Termites may resemble ants, but where ants’ bodies have a narrow waist, termites’ bodies are smooth and straight. Termites also have straight antennae where ants have bent antennae.^{[2] X Research source}

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Termite larvae tend to be white and almost translucent in their color. Keep in mind that older worker and nymph termites also have similar pale coloring, so color alone cannot determine if it is a larva or not.

If they have pale, white bodies but darker heads, they may be soldier termites. These are adult termites.

If they have a darker color, such as brown or black, they may be booklice or ants instead. If they have wings, they may be reproductive termites.

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Most termite larvae are less than 1/10 of an inch (2.5 mm) long. In comparison, an adult worker termite is usually around ¼ inch (6.4 mm) long. Some reproductive termites, known as alates, can grow to be half an inch (13 mm) large, but if the insect is larger than this, they may not be a termite at all.
Termite larvae are about the same size as the eggs they emerge from. These eggs are very small and white. They may be difficult to find, as they are kept deep within the colony. That said, if you find some termites near a pile of eggs, you can compare the size. If they’re roughly the same size, you’ve found larvae.^{[3] X Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Checking for Termite Larvae

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Identify adult termites. If you find mature termites, there are probably larvae somewhere in the colony. While there are a few different types of adult termite, you can typically identify them by their pale, soft bodies. Worker and nymph termites look like larger versions of the larvae while soldiers have a dark, hardened head. Only the reproductive termites that lay eggs have wings.

Step 2 Inspect areas where termites live.

While you may need a professional exterminator to find most termites, you can do a basic check inspection to see if you can notice any signs of infestation. Start by inspecting window sills, window and door frames, support beams, and places where concrete structures join wooden ones.^{[4] X Research source Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.} Use a flashlight to peer into cracks and dark spaces.

You should also check in the basement, in crawl spaces, under the porch, and anywhere that moisture is present.^{[5] X Research source Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.}
Note that termites often live deep within the walls, and they can infest a home for years without being noticed. Just because there are no external signs of termites does not mean that you do not have them.

Using a screwdriver, gently tap the wood or surface of a wall. Listen for any hollow or rustling noises coming from inside the wood. This may indicate that there is something living inside the wood.^{[6] X Research source}

Termites may build mud tubes to travel between areas of their colony. These may look like branches or lines of mud crawling up the wall or foundation. You can break a tube open to see if there are any termites inside. Note that if a tube is empty, it may still mean that there are termites elsewhere in the building.^{[7] X Research source}

Termites can live deep within a structure, and they often keep their larvae within the most protected parts of their nest. To measure the extent of the problem, you should consult with a professional pest control company. They will be able to tell you if you have termites or another pest. They can also identify the larvae for you.

Contract a reputable company and explore a liquid barrier treatment or the installation of termite bait stations. If there are any areas where moisture is building up, they can help you address that as well.^{[8] X Research source Joshua Bloom. Pest Control Specialist. Personal interview. 8 May 2020.}
When in doubt, the best way to know what type of larva or insect is infesting your home is to catch a few in a glass jar. Show them to an exterminator or local pest expert.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Discerning Between Termite Larvae and Other Insects

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As adults, termites and ants can be easily confused. That said, the larvae of the two species are very different. If you’re uncertain if you have termites or ants, try to inspect the larvae if you can find them.

Termite larvae look like a smaller version of the adult worker and nymph termites; they have a separate, segmented head, legs, and antennae.

Ant larvae look like grubs. They have no legs or eyes, nor do they appear to have a separate, segmented head. They are also covered in tiny hairs.^{[9] X Research source}

Step 2 Learn to identify psocids or booklice.

Like termite larvae, psocids (also known as booklice) are small and white. That said, booklice only grow between 1/16 and 1/8 of an inch long (between 1.6 and 3.2 mm). They do not feed on wood; rather, they eat the fungus that grows on wood, books, and other starchy objects in moist environments.^{[10] X Research source}

If you do not have any damage to the wood or other signs of termites, you may have found psocids instead of termite larvae. To be sure, take a few insects in to your local pest control.
Places where psocids are found include books, newspapers, moldy foods and grains, old wallpaper, cardboard boxes, and other paper products. In comparison, termites are often found in walls, wood piles, stumps, crawl spaces, and other wooden areas.

Step 3 Determine if wood damage was caused by beetles instead.

Termites are not the only insect to feed on wood. Powderpost beetles look distinctively different than termites. They have darker, harder bodies, and some may be covered with fine hairs. Powderpost larvae are white and C-shaped. They have tiny spines along their back.^{[11] X Research source}

The best way to know if you have powderpost beetles or termites is to hire an exterminator. They may be able to identify the pest based on the pattern of damage they leave behind.