How to Tell If Termites Have Invaded Your Home

How to Tell If Termites Have Invaded Your Home

There are many kinds of termite pests, which belong to the Isoptera order. They are known for eating us out of house and home, as these pests dine on dead wood, roots and plants. While they look similar, the termite is not related to the ant even if they both live in colonies. Discover more information about these interesting pests so that you can better identify them and get more customized treatment options.

What Termites Do to Your Home

Termites work as nature’s recycling plant. They remove all of the dead wood from an area and then return the nutrients to the soil so that they can be absorbed by the plant life around them. This creates crops and forests. The termites use a specialized bacteria in order to digest the dead plant material. They live on the cellulose, which is found in cell walls of plants. There are three major groups of termites that a homeowner may see, such as: subterranean termites, drywood termites and dampwood termites.

The Differences between Termite Species

Many termite species will look similar. They may appear in your home at different life stages. Swarmers are the termites that most homeowners will find, as these termites are emerging. Drywood termites tend to shed their wings shortly after emerging, leaving some residue behind. If you find one of these insects on your windowsill, you should contact an exterminator right away. If swarmers are found dead, it could mean that subterranean termites are in your home.

Subterranean termites tend to be smaller than drywood termites, but there are other features that distinguish them. Size and color can indicate the species. Dampwood termites, for example, tend to be wider and have a distinct caramel color.

Subterranean termites may build mud towers with a vast underground system of tunnels and chambers centering around a food source. These larger structures provide them with cooling and air circulation naturally. Drywood termites prefer to live within dried wood, which they eat. Their tunnels are made as they eat, which can be very bad for your home!

Tell Tale Signs of Termites

One of the easiest ways to tell if you have termites is by sight. You may see swarmers around your windows or doors. Look for frass, or termite leavings, on wooden boards around your home. You may also find tiny, 1 to 2 mm holes around the house as well. These are all signs of infestation.

Dealing with Termite Infestations

If you think your home may be infested, you should contact an exterminator for a professional inspection. Those trained in termite control can suggest appropriate treatments and help you identify the source of the problem. This will help you control the pests in the future as well.

The sooner you deal with pests, the better. Contact a local pest control professional to get started today.