Subterranean Termite

📖Biology and behaviour

Subterranean termites are the main reason buildings in India are treated against termites. They live in large colonies in the soil, often hundreds of metres from the building, and travel to your wood, paper and cloth through the ground. By the time you notice damage, the colony has usually been feeding unseen for a long time.

They need moisture, so they build thin mud tubes along foundations, walls and pipes to travel safely from soil to food. After the first heavy monsoon rains many colonies release winged swarmers (alates) that gather around lights. Seeing swarmers indoors, or discarded wings on windowsills, is a strong warning that a mature colony is nearby.

⚡Quick facts

Nest

In soil, with a link to your building

Tell-tale

Mud tubes on walls, plinths and pipes

Swarms

Often after the first monsoon rains

Targets

Wood, plywood, books, cloth, cardboard

🔎How to spot an infestation

• Pencil-thin mud tubes running up walls, foundation, door frames or pipes
• Hollow-sounding wood when you tap it, or wood that crumbles to a thin shell
• Paint or plaster that bubbles or ripples without a clear water leak
• Winged insects after rain and piles of discarded wings near doors and windows
• Damaged books, cartons, wooden skirting and cupboard backs, especially at ground level

🛡️How to prevent it

• Treat the soil before construction as per IS 6313, and keep records of the treatment
• Keep timber and cardboard off the ground and away from wall bases
• Fix leaking taps, pipes, AC drains and roof leaks that keep soil and walls damp
• Keep a clear, dry gap between garden soil level and the plinth
• Remove old wood, stumps and construction debris near the building
• Inspect door frames, skirting and cupboards at the base regularly, especially after monsoon