Types Of Wood-Destroying Insects In New Jersey

What do termites look like?

In order to tell you what Eastern subterranean termites in New Jersey look like, we’ll need to explain their caste system. A termite colony is made up of three groups- workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Workers are soft, cream-colored insects that are about ¼ of an inch in length. They do not have wings. 

Slightly larger than workers, termite soldiers are best identified by their yellowish colored heads and large strong jaws. They do not have wings either. 

The reproductives of a termite colony, also called termite swarmers, are brown or black in color and range in size from ¼ to 1/ of an inch in length. They DO have wings.

Where you’ll find termites

Eastern subterranean termites, as their name suggests, live underground in colonies. Workers will leave their colonies and travel through earthen mud tubes in order to infest structures where they’ll consume wood behind the cover of walls and other areas not easily seen by unsuspecting homeowners. 

Though termites are masters at avoiding detection, every year (late February through July, depending on rainfall and weather conditions) New Jersey homeowners have the chance to witness a termite swarm or several. This phenomenon occurs when the reproductive members of a termite colony emerge from their nests or from inside homes and other structures in order to find a mate and establish a new termite colony.  

What do carpenter ants look like?

Often described are large black ants, carpenter ants vary in color - sometimes red, sometimes black, sometimes a yellowish hue, and sometimes a combination of all the colors.  Ranging in size from 5/8th to ½ inch in length, they are much larger than odorous house ants, pavement ants, and other types of ants in New Jersey.

Where you’ll find carpenter ants

Carpenter ants nest in wood that is moist or in the process of decaying. Common nesting sites include tree stumps, utility poles, porch posts, siding, door and window frames, wall voids, wood in contact with soil, and floor joists. 

Why carpenter ants are considered wood-destroying insects

Though not nearly as economically important as termites, carpenter ants do cause damage when they tunnel in wood.  According to Rutgers, carpenter ant damage rarely compromises the structural integrity of a building but we’d be remiss if we did not mention the extent of damage they cause depends on how many nests are present in a structure and how long carpenter ants have been active.

What do carpenter bees look like?

Carpenter bees in New Jersey are often mistaken for bumblebees and while these fuzzy-haired stinging insects are similar in size and coloring, there are a couple of distinctions to note. First, bumblebees have fuzzy abdomens with yellow and black markings. Though the rest of their bodies are covered in yellow hairs, carpenter bees have shiny black, hairless abdomens. Secondly, you won’t find a group of carpenter bees buzzing about. Unlike bumblebees who live in social colonies, carpenter bees are solitary insects that build nests for one. 

Where you’ll find carpenter bees

Carpenter bees use their strong mandibles to bore holes into weathered, unpainted, or soft wood in order to create sites in which to lay their eggs and rear young. 

House siding, eaves, rafters, decks, fascia boards, and frames are common nesting sites for industrious carpenter bees. If you see perfectly round hole(s) drilled into any of the places just mentioned, there’s a good chance you have a carpenter bee (or several) on your property, especially if that wood is not painted or pressure-treated.