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Subterranean termites are similar to Drywood in the caste buildup of the nest. A queen can often have a life span of 10 years. Subterranean termites primarily nest in the soil to obtain moisture but aerial nests are not uncommon as long as all castes of the colony are present and moisture is available.
Subterranean termites build mud tubes to access wood several feet above the ground. These mud tubes can go on for 50-60 feet in an effort to reach wood and are usually one-quarter to one inch wide. These tubes also serve as protection from low humidity and predators.
A rather ferocious type of subterranean termite is the Formosan Termite, supposedly introduced to the United States in the 1940's on ships returning from Asia after World War II. Formosan termites can now be found in many of the southeastern States and have recently been discovered in Southern California. Hawaii has had these pests for over a century and they are wrecking havoc on the French Quarter of New Orleans as well as Florida.
As with Drywood and subterranean termites, Formosans feed on wood or cellulose-based materials. With a substantial colony size, a high reproductive capacity and bigger than the average subterranean termite, the Formosans will consume wood at a much faster rate. The colony can contain more than a million workers and it has been estimated that a large colony can consume more than 2 pounds of wood per day and may forage for several hundred feet.
Formosan termites also live in ‘carton nests’ created out of chewed wood, saliva and excrement. These nests may be located above ground. Formosan termites can be severe pests of living trees. They have also been known to eat through lead, plaster, asphalt, mortar, rubber and plastic to get at underlying wood.
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