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Termites Never Sleep

They prefer to eat

Termites simply aren't programmed to sleepWe’ve all wrestled with big questions like “What is the meaning of life?” and “Why are we here?” For worker termites, both of these queries have an identical answer: to eat wood. In fact, termites are so single-mindedly devoted to this task that they can’t be bothered to sleep in between meals. If you thought your kids were eating you out of house and home, just wait until you learn about these insect pests.

Programmed to Work

The sad truth is that termites simply aren’t programmed to sleep. Instead, they’re programmed to work. The brains of worker termites are far simpler than ours, so they don’t require as much repair and refreshment as those of higher-order animals. Despite the fact that they’re “always on,” termites actually live pretty long for insects—between two and three years for a standard worker.

As long as they’re alive, termites continue to gnaw their way through the structures that they infest. When they die, they’re replaced by successive generations of voracious workers. In untreated colonies, each successive generation tends to be bigger than the last.

More About Termites’ Social Structure

Not all termites are voracious, always-awake pests. Termite colonies have several clearly defined roles: reproductive “kings” and “queens” that can live for nearly 50 years, soldiers that fight off invaders and workers who eat ceaselessly and provide nutrition for other members of the group. Each segment of this society is indispensable to the others, but workers clearly cause the most trouble for Texan homeowners.

A Depressing Multiplier Effect

Since worker termites don’t have to stop eating to sleep or mate, their activities are governed by a “multiplier effect.” Although they do spend some time moving between sources of food, it’s reasonable to assume that they’re eating most of the time. In the process, they’re also clearing new space for the colony to expand and weakening the structures that they infest.

Pest Control Power in Bryan-College Station

If all this talk about 24/7 termite damage has you depressed, we might be able to offer a small amount of consolation. At ABC Home & Commercial Services, our pest control experts know just how to locate and neutralize these voracious structural pests. Don’t resign yourself to expensive, damaging termite infestations. Call (979) 361-0500 to learn how we can minimize the damage and prevent further incursions.

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