As a homeowner, educating yourself about various methods of termite detection can help prevent costly damage to your most prized possession. Termites are sneaky little insects that don’t come out in the open very often. It is necessary, therefore, to know some of the tell-tale signs of termites in order to know if there are any infesting your home. Below are some of the most common termite infestations signs that can alert you to a termite problem in your home.
Spring is in the air – and so are swarms of reproductive termites on the hunt for a new nest. Each spring, king and queen termites leave the colony to search for a suitable place to form a new one of their own. So if you see large swarms of flying termites, or piles of their discarded wings, you may have a termite infestation. Like many flying insects, termite swarmers are attracted to light and often will be seen around windows, doors and light fixtures in the evening and nighttime hours.
Subterranean termites live in colonies underground. In order to travel to and from your home without being seen, they build elaborate shelter tubes made of mud, dirt and debris found in your yard. These tubes are about an inch in diameter and will be built on concrete, exterior walls and objects leading up to entry points to your home. If you see these tubes, it is a safe bet that you have a termite infestation.
Once in your walls, termites travel by burrowing tunnels through the wood and sheet rock. To clean an area that has been burrowed, termites will create tiny pinholes in the wall through which they push sawdust and termite feces out. This allows them to travel to and from food sources unobstructed. If you see tiny pinholes in your walls or furniture, or piles of wood-colored droppings in your home, you may have a termite problem.
If you notice any of these termite infestation signs, it is in your best interests to call a professional termite exterminator to perform an inspection right away. A termite specialist can assess the extent of the infestation and provide the best termite treatment options. For more information about common termite infestation signs or to receive a FREE inspection from the experts at ACTION Termite, call (877) 556-4131 now.
