Termites may cause huge damage to your property, especially wood structures. There are different types of termites that cause damage in equal measure. However, two major breeds cause a lot of termite damage. These are :
- Subterranean termites: they live majorly in soil that’s moist and loose. They become very large and can cause a lot of termite damage. They rely on moisture to live.
- Drywood termites: these live mostly on wood and can live their entire lives there. A dry wood termite causes great damage to your woodwork.
Here are 8 signs of termite infestation
Damaged wood
Damaged wood, majorly caused by dry wood termites, is one of the signs that you may have an underlying termite issue. Drywood termites destroy wood from the inside and leave a thin outer layer. They consume and leave a thin layer of wood remaining. You’re probably asking, how do I detect this?
You may detect these when you tap on wood, and it seems hollow. Unfortunately, some property homeowners know about these dangerous pests after touching a piece of wood, creating a hole from little pressure.
Furthermore, termites create wood caves and tunnels. Tunnels are difficult to view from outside. A common method to detect this is by splitting a piece of wood where you visibly see the burrows.
Both create tunnels(galleries) on wood. Either way, you can distinguish burrows made by both species.
Subterranean termites leave traces of dirt and mud. On the other hand, mud and dirt-free tunnels are a clear sign of dry wood termites. This is because they don’t go anywhere close to the dirt. Also, they don’t rely on moisture like subterranean termites.
Tough-to-open doors and windows
Hard-to-open/close doors and windows are usually a sign of hot weather and dampness in the atmosphere. However, they may also be a sign of a termite infestation. Drywood termites produce moisture when devouring wood which causes water damage to doors and windows. This, in turn, causes doors and windows to get stuck when opening and closing.
When you get signs like these, your house could have a termite infestation, and you should call pest control.
Mud Tubes
Mud tubes are a good sign of termite infestation. Subterranean termites require certain environmental requirements that’s temperature and humidity. These pests live underground and come up to look for food. To create a conducive environment for them to survive, they create shelters. These mud tubes block cool, dry air outside, turning their refuge into a conducive home.
You don’t need professional pest control to notice this. It is one of the quickest ways to determine termite activity. It might not be early, but it’s a sure sign that there are termite infestations around your home.
Termite droppings
Pellets or unexplainable droppings could be a sign of termite infestation. After drilling through wood, dry wood termites seal the holes, and they live inside the wood. They find all they need inside their small wood nest.
Over time, these nests become congested, and some young termites get out. These termites are called swarms and help in the dispersal and survival of termites. Swarmers get out to start a new colony. Termite swarms force their way out through cracks and openings in the wood.
On the flip side, the rest of the pest colony like their nest clean. To handle this, they develop small holes(kick-out holes) where they release their frass(termite droppings). Throwing out frass not only maintains hygiene but also creates more room for termite colonies.
Frass can be of different colors. It depends on the type of wood that the pests consumed. Nevertheless, all dry wood frass is six-sided.
Contrarily, subterranean termite frass is hard to detect. These termites use their waste and mud to build their shelters, making it hard to differentiate both. Therefore, you may require a pest inspection to determine whether our house is termite-infested.
“White ants”
Many people make the major mistake of confusing termites with white ants. Well, it’s okay to do so since both look the same in shape and size. However, you should also know that there are both winged termites and others that are not winged. In case you have trouble differentiating between these two, below’s some information that might be handy:
- Termites have a lighter color, and sometimes they may appear to be a bit translucent.
- Ants antennae are elbowed while termites are dead straight.
- Termites set of wings are the same size, while ants have one set bigger than the other.
- The waist section of the termite is thicker than that of the ants.
- On ants, the meeting point of the abdomen and the thorax is very narrow, while on a termite, this section is larger.
Flying termites
Flying termites show you signs of a termite issue. Swarms of termites move twice per year. You might be experiencing one of the two. Swarmers at different times depending on the species. Some are attracted to light while others move at night.
Drywood termites tend to swarm after rainy periods. It may be difficult to get this moment since their patterns are irregular. Other breeds like the Forsman termites can swarm at dusk while others swarm in early mornings.
Discarded termite wings can also be a sign of a swarm around your home. Winged termites can toss their wings since they may never need them again. This may make it hard for you to tell the difference with white ants.
Discarded wings are a perfect reason to call professional inspectors since it may be overwhelming to locate a nest.
Headbanging
Most people may wonder how termites sound. Quiet clicking sounds are one of the signs of termites in your home. Soldier termites make these sounds to signal danger to the rest of the termites. Worker termites that eat up most of your woodwork are noisy eaters.
You can hear these tiny pests eating away your wood when you put your ear close to wood. Termites are very sensitive. They use organs at the base of their antennae and on the tibia to sense vibrations.
If you suspect that sounds coming from your furniture or wood are from termite activity, you should call for an early inspection of your property.
Damaged wall
Walls are susceptible to damage by termites since they are closest to the ground. Termites hide inside these walls and are very hard to notice. Here’s are signs of a termite infestation on your walls:
- Small holes caused by termites eating through your wallpaper or dry paper coating. You may see a little bit of dirt in those holes.
- Traceable lines on your wall. You might be able to see a map of the termites’ mobility through your wall.
- Hollow sound when tapping on the wall.
- Peeling paint.
In case your house has damaged walls with the above signs, your home could be termite-infested. You should probably get an inspector to confirm this for you.
Pest control
If you suspect that you might be having a termite issue, you should call for termite control. Termites may cause a lot of damage to your property. Therefore, all property owners should be keen on identifying all signs of termites that may indicate an infestation. Termite colonies could be anywhere in your home, from your wall to floor and furniture.
The best way to keep termites away from your home is to keep a keen eye on all the signs and get professional pest control services.