The main reason for termites’ efficiency is that they know how to delegate their work better than any staff. A termite colony is divided into three castes, with a queen being the sole reproducer for her 15-20 year lifespan. Since she lays up to 30,000 eggs a day, their population can explode within a week if they are not controlled. The nymphs join one of the castes based on their natural features and abilities, but all three castes are essential for the colony to function:

• The worker caste is the largest by far, which makes sense considering how much they do for the colony. Workers carve tunnels, build rooms, care for the queen, clean the nest, and feed the young termites. They use their senses of touch and smell to accomplish their tasks since they are completely blind. Workers travel the deepest into wood, so it is rare to see multiple workers on the outside of their nest. 
• Soldiers predictably guard the nest from any intruders, large or small. Since they are also blind, soldier termites use their other senses to determine who should pass through the doorways. Each termite colony has its own specific pheromone scent, determined by the queen, that makes it easy for the soldiers to allow the right termites inside and to chase off intruders with their sharp mandibles. 
• Swarmers, aka reproductives, are the most exclusive caste. They will remain in their home colonies until they are old enough to mate, when they will then depart to mate before finding a new home. These are the only termites that have wings, but they lose these after mating and continue to reproduce. The discarded wings are an early sign of an infestation since they pile up outside of their nest. 

If you see any termites – alive or dead – in your home, you already have a major termite problem on your hands. These pests will not enter the outside world until their colony is booming and the swarmers need a new place to establish a new colony. But whether or not you actually see termites crawling around your home, Pointe can prevent these pests from ruining your space. Whether we are preventing a future problem or treating a current invasion, our O’Fallon team is here to help you. Our treatments are all safe for both people and pets while still being completely effective against termites. Contact us to learn more about our efficient pest control and how we will keep your home termite-free!