Signs of Termites
Termites can do thousands of dollars in damage before they are discovered. Watch out for these signs of termites so you can be prepared.
Unlike most insects, you won’t see termites crawling around your house so it’s not always apparent when you have an issue. Except when they swarm, termites stay hidden from view and do not like air and light. Undetected they can do thousands of dollars in damage before they are discovered. That’s why Paske Pest Control & Wildlife Solutions recommends routine termite inspections for your home. Paske's skilled termite treatment professionals know how and where termites hide and what signs they leave behind.
Mud Tubes:
Subterranean termites construct mud tubes (also called shelter tubes) to protect them from their enemies and to keep their bodies moist. Mud tunnels can come up through expansion cracks in your garage between the concrete wall and the floor. They frequently come up along the front and back porch of the home and get into the wooden structural members from there. Sometimes the homeowner will see specks of mud in the drywall of their home. The termites are actually eating the cardboard on the drywall itself and sealing out the light with mud.
Swarming:
Mature subterranean termite colonies send reproductive termites called swarmers from the nest to start new colonies. These swarms usually occur in springtime. These swarmers resemble flying ants and are typically gone in a day or so. Unfortunately, it’s a case of out of sight out of mind for the homeowner. The swarms may be over for the year, but the worker termites are busy behind the scenes eating your wood and destroying your home.
Damaged Wood:
Termites eat the wood from the inside out so damage is often hard to find. They feed along the grain of the softer spring growth of the wood. Mud tunnels are constructed when the termite workers break through the outer layer of the wood. Significant damage is an indication of an infestation that has gone undetected for several years.
Live Insects:
Live termites can be found when homeowners remodel homes. Contractors tearing out drywall or removing wallpaper will often find these soft bodied, cream colored workers which are about the size of a grain of rice. Flooring installers also find them when replacing carpet or installing hardwood floors. Once exposed, the workers will quickly scatter and try to get back into the shelter tubes and back to the safety of the colony.