Signs of Termites and Termite Damage

In 2009 termites have been responsible for about $2,3 billion worth of damages worldwide and $1.2 billion in the USA only. Figures put termite damage in the same category of threats with tornadoes, flooding, violent storms and tsunamis. Nevertheless, even though it is impossible to avert or prevent natural disasters of this magnitude, it is indeed possible to control and exterminate termites BEFORE they strike. Termites have several important weaknesses like the time it takes them to infest a place, their colony organization, vulnerability to predators and dependence on sources of water and food.

A termite colony of an average size can do several thousand dollar damage in just one year, and reduce a house to complete rubble in less than 3 years. Unlike roaches, wasps, ants and bedbugs, termites are rarely noticed sooner than 6 months after infestation, and a professional exterminator is usually called only when dramatic damage has been done to the building. Only 7-8% of homeowners address the termite control problem in time to avert serious structural damage.

Finding signs of termite presence can mean only one thing – that your house has been attacked by a termite colony, and the termites will not go away on their own free will. You will have to take action or otherwise your house will become a huge fridge to feed termites until it falls apart.

Identifying termites is not an easy thing even for specialists. Average inspector will be able to check only 25-30% of the house. This is enough to clear the house or identify sure signs of termite presence. When a house has already been unsuccessfully treated by chemical termicides, it can be especially hard to find termites. That’s why it is essential to treat termites just one time and once and for all, as otherwise they will hide even deeper in subfloor, basement, attic, and foundation, and it will take even more concerted efforts, time and chemicals to exterminate the insects.

Here is a comprehensive list of the possible signs of termite presence and damage the wood-eating insects can cause:

Live crawling worker termites. Insects will not usually crawl outside of their nests and mud tunnels, so if you see live termites it can mean that infestation has spread rather extensively. Termites are yellowish in color and the size of a small ant. They have a primitive exoskeleton that does not shield them from dangerous predators and even extensive exposure to sunlight and heat;
Mud tubes are channels or pathways that termites use to transport food and get to the sources of water and food in your house. These are usually constructed over cement and other uneatable materials, and are the diameter of a pen. Mud tubes grow with time and can become several diameters thick. Depending on where they are build, tunnel will be full tube size, semicircular or even flat, spanning two walls next to corners;
Piles of wings shed from swarming reproductive termites. Termites are bad flyers and shed wings soon after swarming. Wings can mean that your property or property next to yours has just been infested;
Swarming termites in spring and fall. Don’t confuse them, however, with flying fire and carpenter ants that look somewhat similar. Swarming termites have straight antennae and equal-size wings;
Sawdust next to furniture and wood. Termites dig into wood first, and only them devour it on the inside so that to remain unnoticed;
Buckling paint on walls, windows and furniture will be a tell-tale sign of termites underneath;
Tiny holes the size of a termite on the surface of wooden objects. Holes are usually accompanied by fine saw dust;
Mud looking substance on wood is basically the same saliva, soil and excrements that termites use to make mud tubes and channels;
Damaged wood. Termites usually eat wood constructions from within that’s why tapping on the solid wood surfaces will produce a hollow noise if it has been affected by termites;
Nests in mounds, dead trees and underground;
Termite nests in the basement, foundation and attic where there is leaking plumbing or gutting;
Eggs, larvae and queen are usually found in the heart of the nest and will not be observed out of it. However, if you find anything similar to that be sure to contact a professional extermination team;

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