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Last updated:Â June 11, 2018 Â Out of all of the pests which homeowners face, there are none that are as costly and as damaging as termites. These insects feed on cellulose, the organic fibrous material in wood and plants, meaning that they will literally eat your residence, so youll need to get rid of them fast. .
There are two main techniques termites may come to infest your house (assuming they werent already there in the first place); by air and through the ground.
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A drywood termite infestation normally occurs when an existing colony sends out flying termite swarmers. Once these swarmers find a wooden crevice in your house, they shed their wings, split out a little nest, and begin laying eggs to initiate a brand new termite colony.
On the other hand, subterranean termites, whose colonies are underground, can enter your home via its foundations. Because these termites forage for food, they may stumble upon a wealthy new food source your house. Subterranean termites commonly build mud tunnels over foundation walls to access the wooden parts of the structure.
Note: While you will find other species of termites, these are the two most common species responsible for the majority of the harm to individuals homes.
One of the main reasons that termites can be so damaging is that by the time that many homeowners find the infestation, severe damage has already been done. A termite infestation is similar to cancer; detect it early and chances are pretty good, catch it late and the treatment will probably likely be painful and intensive. .
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Therefore, it's extremely important that you learn how to identify the signs of a termite infestation. Keep a watch out for the following:
If you see a swarm of winged termites near or around your home, thats a sure sign that a termite colony is nearby. Much like winged ants, these winged termites are likely to swarm around a light source. They also seem rather similar, and also the layperson will not be able to tell them apart. .
Termite swarmers dont maintain their wings for long. Once they lose their wings, they are in search of places to build new nests.
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If you notice little piles of discarded swarmers wings on places like window sills, or captured in spider webs, then there may be a termite colony nearby; or even one about to begin.
Mud tubes are little tunnels made by termites to transport food back to their colony. Source: masseyservices.com
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In case you've got a subterranean termite infestation, you will find these tubes at the foundations of your house or in its own substructure.
As subterranean termites eat through the timber of your dwelling, they produce termite galleries. These are the empty spaces left in the timber as they float through it. Typically, termite galleries run parallel to the grain of this wood.
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Drywood termites leave behind their fecal droppings as they munch through the timber in your home. Their droppings, known as frass, are pellet-shaped, and seem like thick grains of sand or sawdust. Should you find mounds of termite droppings in and around your home, you likely have a drywood termite infestation. .
Termites will eat your home from the inside out; thats exactly what makes them so insidious. important link A piece of wood could look absolutely normal on the outside but be completely infested with termites on the inside. If you suspect that a termite infestation at a certain place, tap or puncture the timber to see if its hollow.
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Coupled with different signs of termite infestation, swollen wooden floorboards can mean that there is termite damage underneath them.
Termites like dark and moist areas. Thats why they live just under the surface of the wood and bring in moisture into their termite galleries. This moisture can often cause the wood to swell. If you have termites in your wooden floors, the floors will probably begin to swell. Similarly, the moisture can also cause the paint on wooden surfaces to bubble or peel; especially if the termites have eaten all of the way up to the paint layer. .
Since these signs are similar to the signs of general water leaks (since theyre either due to moisture), be certain that you rule out any water leaks . If you've determined that water leaks are not the cause, you can inspect further by seeing whether the wood has become hollow.