Signs You Have a Termite Infestation

by Kevin Smith Author

Subterranean termites are the most destructive form of termites. Their territory ranges from the tip of Florida all the way up to Southern Canada. They come in the thousands and can silently eat your home without you knowing until structural damage is done. If you have not put termite protection in place in your home you need to look at pest control companies in St Augustine today. In the meantime, you can perform you’re an inspection and look for telltale signs of a termite infestation; here, are some of those signs.

Swarms

Winged termites are tiny black insects with long white wings stacked on top of each other. Within the termite colony, males and females reproduce by the thousands. Their purpose is to create more nests to ensure the continuation of the species. You’ll see them on window panes, windows sales and bright walls. They also may be found on the floor near any exit holes.

In some situations, termites may swarm on the outside of a home. If you see them on the outside of your home, you need to realize that there already is an infestation and it is spreading. Swarms do not tend to last very long and termites will not travel very far, so if you see them it is a good bet that they have infested some structure near you. If they show up in extremely large numbers, it is a very good bet that your home is where they have taken up residence.

Piles of Wings

Termites will shed their wings as they mature. If you see piles of wings in or around your home is more than likely that you have termites. They generally will not travel very far, if at all.

Mud Tubes

Subterranean termites live in the ground because they need moisture to survive. Exposure to air for too long will dry them out and they will die. Ironically, that reality also brings them in proximity to their food. Any part of a home that touches the ground is susceptible to a termite invasion. If your home has a foundation wall, termites will build mud tubes that will allow them to gain access to the wood underneath your home.

You should inspect your basement and if you have an attached garage, inspect that is well. During the inspection, keep an eye out for mud tubes that can serve as feeders for termites directly into your house. You should also look for these tubes on the external shell of your house as well as inside on your basement walls.

The other obvious indicator you have termites is actual damage to the wood in your basement. Because termites are subterranean an attack from the basement is where they will start the vast majority of the time. As you are completing your inspection, you also should be looking into pest control companies in St. Augustine; the sooner you do both, the better.