Termites cost the United States billions of dollars a year in repairs and are notoriously known for the damage they do to homes and businesses. There are various types of termites and they have their own characteristics and attributes. Generally being social insects that have a king and queen, soldiers and workers as well as swarmers, which are future kings and queens or reproducers. Considering this, we at A Five Star Termite and Pest Control would like to elaborate on termite kings and queens.
Heneicosane Termite Pheromone
Researchers at North Carolina State University have identified a specific chemical used by the higher termite castes, or the queens and the kings, for the first time, to communicate their royal status with worker termites. To potentially advance the understanding with these findings comes from the knowledge of termite evolution, behavior, and control. A chemical containing carbon and hydrogen atoms called heneicosane comes into play regarding termites. To enable worker termites to recognize and care for them, the heneicosane is found on the surface of subterranean royal termite’s body. Making communication through chemical signals, termites live mostly underground or in wood and are generally blind. Heneicosane the 1st report of a king recognition pheromone in insects and the 1st of a queen recognition pheromone in termites, according to the experts. In the studies the use of gas chromatography isolated specific chemicals from the exoskeletons of royal and worker termites and only found heneicosane on the royal termites. The workers did not bow or curtsy as action that seemed to reflect the termite version of royal recognition, instead, when heneicosane was applied on glass dummies serving as royal termite surrogate, they start shaking. Allowing the termites to know who the royals are in this two-step recognition process; the colony’s odor gives workers a home and heneicosane within this home. The royal-recognition pheromone lets workers know that there is a queen or a king present to promote a stable colony among the workers. When these worker termites realize royals were also nest mates they would shake more. Making this discovery of a hydrocarbon as a royal-recognition pheromone in termites seemingly predating its use in social insects, according to the studies, the social Hymenoptera appeared about 100 million years ago though termites appeared some 150 million years ago.
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It is critical that they are thoroughly exterminated since termites are a major problem. The colony can simply rebuild itself otherwise. Call the experts of A Five Star Termite and Pest Control if you have termites or suspect you might have them. Before presenting the most optimal solution for full termination, our professionals can perform a comprehensive inspection and confirm the presence of the termites. The termite colony will be obliterated by using proven techniques and effective products, strategically placed throughout the home. Our technicians have the expertise and can help you ensure the termites do not continue their destructive path. The professionals can help beat the termites that are infesting your home or landscaping.
