Drywood termites (Kalotermitidae)

These pests pose a significant threat to various plant species, including fruit trees and landscape timber. In agricultural settings, they colonize the woody parts of plants, gradually destroying their internal structure and potentially killing the affected tree by interrupting nutrient pathways.

The biology of drywood termites involves a social structure where larval stages, known as pseudergates, perform the labor within the colony. Their life cycle is entirely internal, meaning they spend their entire existence hidden inside the wood, making early detection extremely difficult for farmers and nursery owners.

The damage caused by these insects is characterized by deep galleries and tunnels bored through the wood. This structural damage significantly reduces the plant's health and ability to transport water and nutrients, often leaving no external signs of infestation until the damage is severe.

Effective management and protection strategies include:

• Regular inspections for exit holes and piles of characteristic pellet-like frass on the ground.
• Immediate removal and destruction of infested wood materials to prevent colony spread.
• Localized chemical treatments, including insecticide injections into the galleries.
• Use of protective sealants and treatments on high-value woody plants to prevent initial colonization.