However, when termites infest wooden structures and other useful wood products, 
they are often extremely destructive. The extent of the monetary losses they cause 1s 
not known. Estimates vary, however, from $100 to more than $750 million per year 
in the United States for damage, repairs, and preventive and remedial control (645, 
TN SSD) 
For further information on termites, the reader is referred to the following 
studies: 365, 366, 536, 566, 617, 645, 686, 695, 696, 720, 1266, 1316. 
Family Rhinotermitidae 
Subterranean Termites 
The subterranean termites of the Eastern United States all belong to the family 
Rhinotermitidae. Because these termites all require a constant supply of moisture, 
their colonies are found either entirely or partly in the ground. They may, however, 
feed in wood located some distance from the ground, but they always maintain 
connection with the ground unless a continuous supply of water 1s otherwise 
available. In order to attack wood located away from the ground where a supply of 
water 1s not available, they construct covered passageways, commonly called 
shelter tubes (fig. 13A). 
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F-531242 
Figure 13.—Subterranean termite: A, shelter tube on 
foundation wall; B, damage to a pine stake. 
Regardless of the extent of damage they cause to the interior of wood (fig. 13B), 
these termites always leave a covering shell intact. Because of this shell, there 
usually is no external evidence of infestation, even though the interior of the wood 
may be destroyed. The first indication of infestation may be the swarming of 
55 
