The insects which cause damage to the structures and building are identified as Structural Pests. Especially termite species are the major threat identify to cause structural damages. They often feed on the high cellulose base materials such as woods and papers. Termites are also known as “White Ants’ known for the destruction they cause in Millions of dollars per year. They feed on wooden structures and cellulose based materials and identified to be the most destructive insect in the world.
Termites are often called the “silent destroyer” because they may be secretly hiding and thriving in your home or yard without any immediate signs of damage. The common termite species identified in Sri Lanka are as follows
- Subterranean Termites
- Dry wood Termites
- Damp wood termites
The climatic condition and soil structure in Maldives favors the colonization and spread of termite species in most of the region. The termites build their colony inside the soil and spread to the building structure in search of food. Subterranean termite colonies are bigger which consist of millions of termites, categorize into King, Queen, Soldiers and worker termites. Unlike subterranean termites wood borers have very small colonies and find inside the wood itself.
