Termite
Harvester Termite
Hodotermes mossambicus
Harvester termites (commonly called black termites) are the daytime grass-cutters that ruin lawns, sports fields and grazing across the highveld. Workers cut grass blades and carry them down hexagonal soil openings to underground nests. They do not damage structural timber but cause huge cosmetic and pasture damage in Pomona, Bredell and surrounding smallholdings.
How to identify
- Black-headed workers active above ground in daytime
- Small round hexagonal soil openings in lawns
- Bare circular patches with cut grass at the edges
- Active after summer rains
Where they hide
- Lawns, sports turf and bowling greens
- Smallholdings and grazing pasture
- Estate verges and golf-course rough
- Newly developed sites with disturbed soil
Health & property risks
- Destroys premium kikuyu and LM lawns
- Major economic impact on grazing pasture
- Cosmetic ruin of estate landscaping
- Encourages secondary weed invasion
Prevention tips
- Identify and treat active openings early
- Use registered residual lawn-safe insecticide
- Avoid over-grazing on smallholdings
- Maintain lawn density so workers cannot establish
FAQs
Harvester Termite — answered
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