If you have never seen a termite and are not sure what to look for, the easiest explanation would be to say that they closely resemble an ant, but are white in color.
There is also no relationship between the two insects.
All termites have specific jobs that it performs.
There is the 'royal pair' that mate and produce even more of the destructive little beings.
There is what is referred to as the soldier termite.
As the name implies, it will protect its territory to the death.
Strangely enough, the worst invader is the common ant.
The soldier is not known for its good looks with protruding jaws and large armored heads.
Some have snouts through which it squirts a repellent at its enemies.
The main caste of the termite colony is the worker termite.
Even when the queen has laid a new batch of eggs, it is the worker that emerges first.
Depending on the type of species there can be up to three different types of worker ants.
As their name implies, they do the work, or the destruction, and feed the colony.
Termites live closely in structure to their common enemy the ant.
They have a king and queen, the soldier for protection, and the worker that the entire colony depends on for its survival.
They are the most destructive insect known.
If it should decide to infest your home and you are left unaware of their presence the can eat deeply into the wood that supports every part of your residence.
Their destruction has bee known to cost thousands of dollars in repair cost and in some of the worst cases, structures cannot be saved.
Termites thrive much more easily in some parts of the country than in others.
In areas known for them, homes and other structures are built of material that the termite will find impenetrable.
If you find you have a termite problem, finding it early is the best defense.
You can do your own home inspection if you are skilled in what to look for, otherwise it should be done by a professional.
People today are against the use of chemicals but when it comes to termites that is the best treatment available.
There has been some success using orange oil, but getting rid of the problem for good is not a guarantee when using this product.
A professional termite exterminator is always your best bet.
They know how and where to provide treatment and how many treatments are required to rid your home of these pests.
An exterior treatment will stop further invasion of the termite and protect your home from further damage.