In the United States alone, termites cause billions in structural damage a year and homeowners spend an equal amount of money trying to fix the damage done by termites. Indeed, termites are a destructive force you should be concerned about, but what are the signs of termites in your home?
If you know the signs of termites, you will be able to act immediately before the infestation matures and becomes a lot harder to deal with. Here are the signs of termites you should look out for.
1. Termite swarms
You have heard of bee swarms, but you have probably not heard of termite swarms. Just like bees, termites break off from their colonies and establish their own. This usually happens during fall or spring.
They fly around in a group for a bit, shed their wings, and mate to start their own colony. Termites swarming can be tricky to spot. It only takes a few moments and it often happens in the morning or afternoon when homeowners are not particularly looking at their garden, lawn, or yard.
If you see termite swarms, be wary. They may be thinking of starting their colony near your home. Seeing a group of translucent insect wings near your home is an equally devastating sign. Though these wings could be from other insects like ants, it’s not unlikely that they are from termite swarms.
2. Mud tubes
If you see lumps of soil that look like tunnels, be wary. These are mud tubes that have been created by subterranean termites. They are some of the strongest signs of an active termite infestation in a building.
Termites make these mud tubes to connect their colony and the wood they consume. Think of these mud tubes as bridges. They don’t just make the wood they consume more accessible. They also make the termites safer as they protect the pests from the harmful effects of air and sunlight.
Mud tubes are often on shady spots, such as crawl spaces and foundation blocks. So, you may want to look at these spots when you are trying to look for these lumps of soil. Also, take note that destroying these mud tubes will not solve your termite problem. Remember that mud tubes are just bridges. If you want to get rid of termites, you have to focus on their colony, not on bridges that simply connect their colony and the wood they consume.
3. Termite droppings
One of the more obvious signs of a termite infestation is the sight of termite droppings, also known as frass. In fact, it’s one of the key indicators pest control professionals look for in a property.
Termites consume wood, so it’s not surprising that their droppings are made of wood too. These droppings look like coffee grounds or sawdust. You should be very attentive when it comes to these droppings. Many homeowners often mistake them for mere dirt. And before they know it, they have a fully mature termite infestation at home.
You are more likely to see termite droppings if the termites infesting your home are drywood termites. This is because subterranean termites use their droppings to make their mud tubes. Drywood termites, on the other hand, just push their droppings outside of their colony. You will usually see these dark and powdery materials near the area they are infesting.
4. Hollow wood
Termites consume wood from the inside, making the consumed wood hollow. Spotting hollow wood can be tricky, especially when it is on a wall. A good technique is to try to spot narrow lines and sunken areas. If you have wallpaper installed, these lines and areas will be more prominent. You can also try to knock or tap on wood. Hollow wood will sound different than solid wood.
But not all hollow woods are hard to spot. Those outside your home can be very obvious, especially those that connect to the soil on the ground. Sometimes, the woods that have been eaten by termites are also not as inconspicuous as hollow wood. Sometimes, they are obviously eaten by termites because of their rugged look.
5. Awkward-fitting doors and windows
If your doors and windows are not opening or closing properly, you don’t automatically think that you have termites in your home. In fact, most homeowners assume that moisture is the culprit.
They are not wrong. Moisture can indeed make your doors and windows awkward-fitting and stiff. But moisture doesn’t just come from the weather. It can also come from termites. As termites feast and excavate through the wood, they release moisture. And this moisture can warp the wood in ways that will make your doors and windows practically unusable.
Since moisture can come from anywhere, awkward-fitting doors and windows are not the best signs of termites in your home. But it’s not a bad idea to get your home checked by a pest control professional if you think your awkward-fitting doors and windows are not caused by moisture from the weather.
6. Clicking sounds from walls
If you hear mild clicking sounds from your walls, be wary. They may be the sounds of termite activity. These clicking sounds come from 2 general termite activities – headbanging and eating. Soldier termites bang their heads on wood as a way of communicating with other termites. Usually, headbanging is a sign that there is some kind of danger for the colony. Worker termites, on the other hand, eat away the wood in a noisy manner. They are mostly the ones who destroy the infested wood.
These noises can be very faint. You may have a hard time trying to hear them, especially when soldier termites don’t perceive any apparent danger to their colony. If you are having a hard time hearing these clicking sounds, consider using a stethoscope on the wood you suspect is infested with termites.
Knowing the signs and acting
Termites can be a big problem in your home. So, before they become even more unmanageable, it’s best to get rid of them before their colony matures. The best way to combat the development of termite colonies is to understand the signs of termites. If you know the signs, you can act immediately to get rid of these pests.