Termites are an insect species that feeds on cellulose found in wood and other materials. They live in colonies, either underground or inside the wood that they feed on. They rarely bite people, and their bites do not pose much of a risk. Their main danger comes from the damage that they can do to the home.
Why termite bites are so rare
Termite workers and soldiers have bodies that cannot retain moisture when they are out in the open, so if they ever leave the colony, they will outright die in a few minutes. As such, they need to stay inside the colony, whether it’s underground, or inside of wood, in order to survive. This makes it very hard for them to ever have the opportunity to bite a person. This is also why you will almost never see a worker or a soldier out in the open. Termite swarmers on the other hand are the reproductive caste of a colony. They are the winged termites that you may see flying around in large numbers during termite season.
Do swarmers bite?
The good news is that termite swarmers do not bite people either. They will set out when the weather is warm enough to mate and start a new nest. They look very similarly to winged ants, but they have a thicker midsection and straight antennae.
What happens if a termite does bite?
Usually, when people think they have been bitten by a termite, they were bitten by a different insect. For example, you probably know that an ant bite is not very painful, but if you all of a sudden are bitten by a fire ant, the pain and effects of the bite will come as quite a surprise, and you might think you were bitten by a termite. However, this is not the case, but if you are bitten by any insect, and you experience prolonged or acute symptoms, you should see a doctor.
Dealing with a termite infestation
Just because termites don’t bite people and are not a health threat, they can still cause tremendous damage to the home. If you think you have an infestation, it’s best to get rid of it as soon as possible, and most termite infestation will require professional intervention. Contact us today with any questions you may have or to set up a termite inspection and control appointment. We will gladly help you out.