Termite Damage Signs

The termite colony is founded by the queen termite and king termite, with many worker termites doing chores like feeding the eggs,etc. Termites are attracted towards moisture as moist place can be a good nesting source to them. There are some flying termites too, whose function is to be on the lookout for new nesting grounds.

If you are building a house, it is better to take some damage control measures beforehand against termites. After all, prevention is better than cure. You can have pest control treatment done while building your house against future termite infestations. If you suspect that your house has been invaded by these tini-tiny creatures, search for the given signs.

▸ See whether there are any mud tube trails inside or around the house. Upon finding a source of food, termites build a tunnel of mud to reach it. If you find the mud tube, break it to find live termites. Dead or no termites doesn't mean that there is no infestation, it merely might imply that the mud tube has been abandoned by the colony.

▸ If you find any swarmers, i.e. flying termites that would probably mean that the infestation is there. Swarmers, upon finding the potential nesting place, shed their wings and start a colony of their own, thus spreading the infestation.

▸ Look for loose wooden boards and drooping floor or wall paint. You can check the hollowness of a wooden board by tapping it with a metal. The infested wood sounds hollow and may even get damaged by tapping forcefully.

▸ Find out whether there is any stagnant water pool near your house. If yes, then immediately get rid of it as the termites can enter your house from the nearby tree stumps and lay their eggs near the water.
▸ Get rid of any wooden waste, tree stumps or other rubbles; thus eradicating a food source to the termites.

▸ Signs that a home has termites are the sawdust on wooden material and damaged woods. Unfortunately, just by replacing these damaged wood won't solve the problem. You have to seek help by calling professional pest controller and use his expertise in doing damage identification.

The professional exterminator will inspect your house for the extent of damage, and then suggest his opinion regarding damage repair. The termite treatment cost might be a necessary evil which you have to put up with, but do not opt for spot treatment.

▸ Spot Treatment: It treats only some affected spots, mainly the visible ones. The underlying problem can be resolved only with a complete termite control treatment.
▸ Liquid Treatment: The damaged wood can be treated with liquid treatment. The liquid termicide is easily available in the market and doesn't cost a lot.

▸ Fumigation: Fumigation process involves spraying the affected area with gases like Sulfuryl Fluoride or Methyl Bromide. This process requires evacuation of the house and covering all the edible stuff.

▸ Bait Treatment: This is another damage solution which consists of placing wooden bait in a syringe at the affected area. It is a slow but effective process and also less environmentally hazardous.

Termites prefer spring more than any other season as they get both warmth and moisture. During winters, the termites are considerably less active. However, if provided with ideal conditions for growth, they can flourish even during the cold weather. Usually they cannot be seen roaming out in the open as they like to travel through wood or mud tubes.

Wood is not the only source of food they like to feed on. From paper to carpets, they can munch on any cellulose based product. An acute case can take around 3 to 8 years to completely destroy the habitability of a house.

Drywood termites are the most common type of termites found in United States. These termites usually live above the ground and slowly damage the structure of the house without being noticed by the inhabitants.

Another type of termites that can cause havoc on residential and commercial properties are the ground termites. As the name suggests, they live inside the ground. However, they travel above the ground to find their food source. These termites are quite active and can cause extensive damage termites at a faster rate compared to drywood termites.

Formosan termites are the new arrivals in United States but their population has spun out of control in the southern states.

Damage done by termites can be controlled and repaired if proper treatment is implemented. Find out the early signs of termite infestation to restrict the damage. Once you put an end to the home invasion by these little critters, you can enjoy the beauty of your humble abode.