Termites can cause a significant amount of damage before you realize that there is a problem. Although it can be tough to spot a termite infestation, there are some signs that can alert you that your home has been invaded. Periodic inspections will help locate termites before they can endanger your home.
Identification
1.You can tell if you have a termite infestation if you see one of the following signs: swarms of flying termites in your home, mud tunnels along the foundation, tiny holes in wood, buckling paint or wings or sawdust around doors or windows. Termites are often confused with carpenter ants, but termites have wings that are the same length, straight antennae and thicker bodies than carpenter ants.
Features
2.Termites eat wood, whether it’s an old stump in your backyard or beam in your home. Termites usually enter your home through tiny cracks in the foundation and once inside start devouring all the wood and fiber they can find. As they chew through the wood, they leave a chemical trail behind, alerting other termites that they’ve found a good source of wood.
When faced with a concrete wall, termites build mud tubes and use these tubes to travel across areas that they can’t chew through. These tubes are also used for protection against predators and to provide moisture.
Considerations
3.Wood damage can be difficult to spot, as termites work below the surface of the wood. If the wood has darkened or is starting to blister, it could be a sign that termites are at work. If you poke a suspected area with a screwdriver and it crumbles, it is a good indication that termites are present or have been active in your home at some point.
Misconceptions
4.Spotting only a few termites doesn’t mean that you don’t have a serious infestation. Termites avoid the sun and bright lights and even though you won’t see them, there are thousands to millions of termites involved in an infestation.
While wet locations are more likely to attract termites, they can be found in every state in the United States and in many countries of the world.
Prevention/Solution
5.Don’t stack firewood against your house. You won’t be able to tell if the wood contains termites, and if it does, you’ll be providing them with easy access to your home. Keep wood mulch at least 18 inches from your home. Try using gravel instead if you need to prevent weeds next to your house. Because termites are drawn by moisture, it is important to fix leaks and remove standing water in or outside your home.
If you think you have termites, call a professional pest control company. The company you choose will discuss your options with you and suggest one or more of the following solutions: in-ground bait stations, using a liquid termicide in trenches dug around your house or drilling holes in your foundation and injecting termicide in the walls.
















































































