Termites are probably the most disastrous type of pests. Every year, they cost homeowners a lot of money in agricultural and structural damage. Termites can seriously damage your home’s structural integrity in less than a year. And you may not know you have a termite issue until it is too late. Thus, it is important to know the signs of a termite infestation to avoid expensive damage and repairs. If you want to get rid of your pests like termites, do not ignore what pest control experts can do.
Termites do not cause direct harm to you. But they can be quite destructive to your home’s structure, insulation, books, and papers. Also, they can wear your trees down. Sadly, termites are not easy to spot. But here are signs you must look for if you think termites have infested your property:
- Mud tubes. Some termite species must stay moist, so they build mud tubes to get around. These tubes allow termites to get to their source of food and back to their colony. Usually, you can find these mud tubes around your house, on the foundation, or hard surfaces.
- Termite bodies. Spotting living or dead termites is a sure indication of an ongoing infestation. This can be tricky because termites avoid highly trafficked areas. Also, you may mistake them for flying or white ants.
- Termite swarms. Termites swarm in the spring as they leave their colonies to mate and create a larger colony.
- Discarded wings. If you have a termite infestation, you may find discarded wings near doors and windows. Termites shed their wings after they swarm in the spring.
- Hollow wood. If you hear a hollow sound when you knock on a wooden structure, this could mean it has been compromised by termites. You may notice cracks on the surface and splitting. Termites will usually make tunnels within the wood, emptying the space parallel to the grain.
Kinds of Termites
The country is home to dozens of termite species, but the main kinds are subterranean, dampwood, and drywood termites. Although dampwood and drywood termites can inflict serious damage, subterranean termites are the most destructive. Indeed, subterranean termites cause the most home damage. These termites live underground and get around through mud tubes. They find areas with minimal to no human disturbances. They greatly depend on soil moisture.
Meanwhile, drywood termites don’t depend on soil moisture. That is why they live inside woods and make dry wood structures their home. Drywood termites can be found in doors, cabinets, furniture shelves, and walls.
Dampwood termites tend to infest wood materials that have high moisture content. Usually, they live in decaying forest logs. They need constant water supply, so they house themselves in areas that have decaying timbers and fallen trees.
Termites can cause serious damage. The colony of subterranean termites can have 1 million to 2 million termites. They can completely eat away a 2×4 wooden beam after six months. Because of the damage these pests can inflict on your property, you should learn to recognize the signs of their presence and contact a pest control company immediately.