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Termite Infestations: What You Need to Know
Admin • Oct 20, 2021
Termites are notoriously destructive. These bothersome bugs do their worst silently and swiftly, and their presence is often only noticed when the infestation has spread to significant levels. Read on to discover important facts about a termite infestation, and take charge of a potential termite problem before it's too late.
You May Not Even Know They're There
Termites feast on wood and primarily hide within the walls and structural elements of your home. These wood eaters are also quite small, so even if you do gain access to the inside of your walls, you may miss them unless you know what to look for. An inspection is necessary to discover an infestation. Fortunately, they do make an appearance outside of your walls.
Homeowners often first discover termites when they spot them in the flesh. Swarmers, the winged variety of termites, can be found around entry points where colonies form especially during the spring months when new colonies are established.
They Look a Lot Like Flying Ants
If you spot what looks to be a winged ant, you will need to look closely to rule out a termite problem. These pests share many similarities with winged ants, and they're often mistaken for this insect. However, termites differ in that their bodies have thicker waists that do not taper at the center.
Both of these insects have four wings. Flying ants have a larger pair and a smaller pair, while termites' four wings are all the same length. Termites and flying ants are about the same size and are both brown or tan. However, termites antennas, unlike flying ants, are straight and thin rather than elbowed.
The Signs Are Hard to Catch
Termites can destroy your home relatively undetected unless you know how to investigate for signs of an infestation. These common clues can signal a termite invasion.
Property Damage
Termites don't chip away at the wood they feast upon. Rather, when they eat away at the wooden elements of your home, they create little tunnels and hollow cavities that form what looks like pathways along the wood grain. Termites not only eat wood. They have also been known to ingest soil and the cardboard portion of your home's drywall.
Shelter Tubes
Termites combine their own saliva with the materials they chew to form mud tubes they utilize for shelter and transportation. You can typically spot these tubes running from a wooden structure to wherever their nesting site lies.
Fecal Pellets
You may notice odd piles of little balls that accumulate near nesting or feeding sites. Small, tan, six-sided fecal pellets collect near holes that termites create in wooden structures after the waste is expelled and discarded.
Their Removal Requires Special Skills
These harmful pests often do not respond to do-it-yourself methods for control. Because their presence is difficult to identify, it requires specialized tools and extensive knowledge to locate an infestation and evict these destructive pests. If any of these pests are left unbothered, they could quickly multiply and cause more damage.
When you spot the signs of an infestation, don't try to take it on by yourself. The problem must be eradicated properly to ensure the safety of your home and family. Termites are capable of extensive damage, and it's important to handle an invasion right away.
Even pest control companies require special certification to tackle a termite problem, known as a structural pest license. Fortunately, the technicians at American Pest Professionals
have the licensure and skills required to manage a termite issue. For help with a suspected termite problem in your home, give us a call to schedule an inspection by one of our experts.
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