Termites are destructive pests found in two main forms: soil-dwelling and wood-infesting. The wood-infesting types are particularly damaging to both dry and damp wood structures. These insects have a strong attraction to cellulose-based materials and are capable of reaching food sources located far from their nests. Termite nests may be situated close to the infested building, several meters underground, or even in neighboring properties. Worker termites create intricate underground tunnels or pathways to reach wooden structures and transport the material back to their colony.
These tunnels can stretch over several meters, allowing termites to invade buildings silently. Once inside, they attack wooden structures, taking the material back to the nest to feed their colony—often made up of millions of termites. In the UAE, the most common and economically significant termite species affecting buildings include Coptotermes spp., Cryptotermes spp., Heterotermes spp., Macrotermes spp., Microcerotermes spp., and Odontotermes spp.
Termites begin life with wings and emerge from their mounds in swarms. After mating, both male and female termites shed their wings and search for suitable soil to establish a new colony. The female becomes the queen and begins producing eggs, giving rise to workers, soldiers, and other reproductives. The colony is organized into castes, and the queen secretes hormones to regulate this structure. Over time, the queen becomes solely responsible for laying eggs, sometimes assisted by a secondary queen.
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