In Arizona, the most common type of termite is the Desert Subterranean termite. Because they live underground and burrow into the wood that makes up the structure of a home, they are rarely seen by homeowners. That is why it is so important to know how to spot the tell-tale signs of their presence in and around a home. There are several signs of termite infestation that you can look for to keep your home protected from termite damage.

• Mud Tubes: Mud tubes are one of the most common signs of termite infestation. In order to travel from their colony to your home, subterranean termites will build structures called mud tubes. These tubes provide cover and shelter for foraging termites that enter your home to gather food to take back to the colony. Mud tubes are flattened tubes about the diameter of a pencil. If you see mud tubes running over any concrete foundations or other exposed surfaces leading to your home, you likely have termite problems.
• Swarmers: The presence of swarmers is perhaps one of the most easily recognizable termite infestation signs. Reproductive swarmers are winged termites that leave the nest in search of new sites to build a colony. The presence of swarmers is, therefore, one of the first signs of termite infestation. Be on the lookout for swarms of termites or for discarded piles of termite wings in your house or in your yard.
• Wood Damage: When it comes to subterranean termites, spotting signs of wood damage is actually more difficult than you may think. This is because subterranean termites feed on the spring wood located in the interior of timber, making the exterior surface wood appear intact. However, you can detect the termite galleries within the wood by gently tapping the exterior surface every few inches or so. If the wood sounds hollow or the tapping breaks the surface of the wood, it may be a sign of termite infestation.

In addition to looking for these termite infestation signs on your own, it is a good idea to get a professional termite inspection every year to be sure you discover a termite problem before it causes thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home. Call(877) 556-4131today for details on these and other termite infestation signs or to receive a FREE termite inspection from the experts at ACTION Termite Control.