Termites can be a menace to any home and there is a lot of destruction they can cause which means costly repairs and replacements. But if you can detect an infestation early on, you can minimise the damage they can do and save yourself a lot of worry.
If you do find signs of termite infestation, it is best to contact a pest control service so that they can remove it without causing damage to your property and ensuring everyone’s safety. You may not always notice termites but you may see termite swarmers that are winged insects. They tend to get mistaken for winged ants but make sure to get one insect and closely examine them to differentiate. There are many differences between termite swarmers and winged ants. Termite swarmers have a broad waist whereas the ant has a narrow waist. They also have straight antennae and wings of equal length. A flying ant will have bent antennae and wings that are different lengths. If you spot termite swarmers inside the house, this is a sign that there is a mature colon of termites close by.
A common termite
Type in the United States is subterranean termites that can be found along your house foundation, crawl spaces and on walls. They create mud tubes to protect them so that they can safety travel between the nest and food sources. When you break the mud tube, you will see worker termites inside it. Termites can be a menace to your home as they consume wood and they do this from the inside out so that you will not see a visual difference. But you can tap on the wooden structures around your home to see whether any of them emits a hollow sound which means that the inside has been eaten. This is a good way to find out that there is termite activity in your home. Sometimes you can see small tunnels or holes on wooden surfaces.
Where there are termites,
You will also see droppings and this is called frass. They are wood coloured pellets that will accumulate near infested areas. These look like sawdust but when you look closely, you will see that they are shaped like pellets. You may also see discarded wings around doors and windowsills. Termite swarmers shed their wings once they find a mate and establish a colony. This type of activity tends to peak in the spring and fall. If you are suddenly noticing this in your home, then it is a good indication that a termite colony is nearby. You will also see warping of paint or bubbling on surfaces that are affected. This is because termite activity gives rise to moisture. You will see this close to wooden structures. The structural integrity of your wooden elements will be compromised when there is a termite infestation as they create hollow areas. And you will find it difficult to open and close windows and doors. They tend to stick when they are damaged.
