F-519935 
FIGURE 8.—Formosan subterranean termite colony and damage: left, carton 
nest and damaged wood above a window inside a building; right, colony 
of workers in a cypress log. 
Nonsubterranean Termites 
Several species of nonsubterranean termites occur in the East- 
ern States. They are found throughout the state of Florida; also 
in a narrow strip along the Atlantic Coast as far north as south- 
eastern Virginia, and westward along the Gulf Coast to Mexico. 
Infestations are found in structural timber and other woodwork 
in buildings; in furniture; in utility poles; in wooden derricks and 
piled lumber; in wood pulp or fiber insulation boards; in other 
products containing cellulose; and in trees and other plants. Be- 
cause of their ability to live in wood that is frequently moved, 
nonsubterranean termites are often found in regions far removed 
from their normal range, including Canada. None of these are 
able to establish permanent infestations (675). 
Nonsubterranean termites fly directly to and enter untreated 
and unpainted wood at swarming time. They cut across the grain 
of the wood and excavate broad pockets or chambers, connected 
by tunnels of small diameter. They feed on both the soft spring 
wood and the harder summer wood. Their cavities contain com- 
pressed pellets of partly digested wood. Some pellets are also 
pushed to the exterior through small holes and are found in piles 
on the floors of infested buildings (fig. 9). 
Nonsubterranean termite colonies contain only two castes of 
adults: reproductives and soldiers. Since there is no worker caste, 
the work of the colony is performed by young nymphs. Winged 
adults are distinguished by the presence of branches between the 
upper rim of the wing and the first long vein. These are absent in 
winged subterranean termites. Soldiers differ from the soldiers 
of subterranean termites in having their mandibles lined with 
teeth on the inner edge. 
Winged adults usually swarm during the early evening hours 
of late winter or spring. Unless carried by the wind, they fly for 
only short distances in search of places to found a new colony. 
Once they have succeeded, they shed their wings and bore directly 
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