Buzz
Each year, termites cause substantial damage to buildings and crops in tropical and dry regions of the United States. Billions of dollars are spent annually on termite control and repairing the damage they cause. Early detection of a termite infestation is crucial to limiting the destruction of the colony, but it’s not always easy. Many homeowners rarely spot the termites as they typically hide in underground nests and destroy wood within walls. However, there are still ways to detect them.
Steps
Recognizing Signs of Termite Damage
Inspect suspicious wood for damage. If you suspect termite activity, try cutting a small piece of wood from the area in question, if possible. Different types of termites cause various patterns of damage to wood.
- Subterranean termites damage softwood and follow the grain, creating honeycomb-like patterns inside the wood, which are easy to spot. It is crucial to stop subterranean termites as soon as they are detected. The Taiwanese subterranean termite is especially destructive due to its large colonies, often reaching millions of individuals. If left untreated, this pest can cause severe damage to homes, fences, and power poles.
- Drywood termites create large holes in wood by chewing along the grain and eating into the fibers. While they are less destructive than most subterranean termites, they still pose a serious concern. Drywood termite colonies are usually much smaller, typically only containing a few thousand individuals, and can take years to reach this size. Even so, a whole colony only consumes about 230 grams of wood annually.
Hussam Bin Break
Expert in Pest Control, Diagno Pest Control
Expert in Pest Control, Diagno Pest Control
To check for termites, set up a monitoring system. Hussam Bin Break from Diagno Pest Control Center explains: "These systems consist of a piece of wood with a plastic cover and cardboard. Every six months, inspect for signs of termite activity to check if they are beneath the ground or around your house."
Look for additional evidence indicating termite presence. By being vigilant, you may spot signs of termite infestation, even if the insects themselves are not visible. Signs of termite nests include warped or sunken wooden floors, loose tiles, small holes in drywall, damaged wood that is brittle or makes a hollow sound when tapped.
- Tunnels from the ground to exposed wood above the ground. Termites eat dead wood, which is commonly used in many homes. They build narrow tunnels to create safe paths into the building. These tunnels are made from soil, saliva, droppings, and other materials, indicating active termite activity.
- Drywood termites live inside wooden structures such as beams, furniture, and hardwood floors. These termites typically remain hidden inside their nests, but you can find signs of their presence. Drywood termites expel waste, known as "termite droppings," outside the tunnels and holes. Piles of wood-colored droppings may accumulate on floors beneath infested wood sections.
Hussam Bin Break
Expert in Pest Control, Diagno Pest Control
Expert in Pest Control, Diagno Pest Control
Mud tunnels in basements are a sign of termites. Hussam Bin Break, the operations manager at Diagno Pest Control Center, advises: "If your house has a basement, the best place to check for termites is the corners of the house where it meets the ground. In unfinished basements, examine the inside walls or check the exterior if there is a surrounding foundation. If you see mud tunnels, it’s a sign of termite activity."
Listen for sounds. Tap a screwdriver against each piece of wood during your regular home inspections. If a hollow sound is heard, the wood may have been damaged by wood-damaging pests. Inside the house, you can use a stethoscope or another device pressed against the wall to listen.
- You won’t hear termites themselves, but carpenter ants will make a faint rustling sound as they scurry around their nests.
Distinguish termites from other household pests. Termites are just one of many wood-damaging insects that can harm your home. Carpenter ants and some beetles also destroy wood. It’s essential to identify which pest has infested your home in order to develop a treatment plan. The easiest way to tell if termites or another pest is the problem is by closely observing the insect. Termites have some distinctive features compared to ants and beetles.
- Worker termites are typically light yellow in color with soft bodies. Carpenter ants and beetles tend to be much darker and have hard exoskeletons.
- Termites have straight antennae, unlike the bent antennae of carpenter ants.
- Termites are usually hidden, so the best way to identify them is by looking at the winged version of the insects. Once a termite colony grows to a certain size, winged reproductive termites will emerge to establish new colonies. Termites have two equally sized wings, while carpenter ants have one pair of wings much larger than the other. Beetles have one pair of hard wings that spread out while flying.
- Termites lack a clear waist and have segmented bodies, unlike carpenter ants, which have a noticeable waist connecting the thorax to the abdomen.
Preventing and Repairing Termite Damage
Contact a professional pest control service if you discover a termite infestation. Instead of attempting to handle termite elimination yourself, let the professionals take care of it. Reach out to local pest control companies and inquire about their termite treatment pricing.
- Look for companies with competitive pricing along with positive reviews or recommendations.
Remove dead trees and stumps around your yard. Decaying wood is a primary food source for termites and could serve as a hiding place for a hungry termite colony.
- If you store firewood or building materials, keep them as far from the house as possible. Before bringing wood inside, check for signs of termites such as holes in the wood, a hollow feel, or a hollow sound when tapping.
Use treated wood for construction. The chemicals in treated wood help repel termites. If you are building outdoor structures like decks, porches, or anything elevated off the ground, choose treated wood to minimize attraction for wandering termite colonies.
Inspect common termite entry points. Termites often enter homes through wooden materials that come in contact with the ground, such as door frames, wooden posts, or foundation beams. You can protect these areas by regularly checking for signs of termites, clearing water pools, and treating the wood with termite-repelling methods such as soil treatments.
Avoid placing garden mulch directly against the house. You can apply garden mulch, but make sure it doesn’t touch wooden panels or the foundation of your house. Mulch typically contains wood materials and retains moisture in the soil, creating a perfect hiding place for termites.
- This also applies to shrubs. Bushes that come into contact with the foundation or wooden panels of your home can become termite habitats and can also conceal them.
Hussam Bin Break
Expert in Pest Control, Diagno Pest Control
Expert in Pest Control, Diagno Pest Control
Try these preventive and detection methods for termites. According to Hussam Bin Break, manager of Diagno Pest Control: "To prevent termites, trim trees and clear any debris within 15-30 cm around your house. Additionally, if there’s water pooling near the foundation, make sure to redirect it away from the house, as moisture attracts termites."
Install termite barriers. This method is especially useful if you are in the process of building a home. Metal sheets are placed along the foundation to prevent termite entry. The material must be made of stainless steel and have no gaps.
- This barrier prevents termites from accessing the wooden foundation or structures inside the house.
Assess the extent of wood damage. If the wood is hollow or completely decayed, it cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
- Remove the damaged wood sections. Once you discover damaged or completely rotted wood, you will need to use a chisel to remove those parts.
Use wood filler or wood hardener. You can fill damaged wood sections with wood filler or wood hardener. Use a putty knife to apply these materials to areas that have been hollowed out by termites. Let it dry overnight.
- Be sure to remove air bubbles from the filler or hardener to avoid creating gaps in the wood. Wood filler is most effective for filling long hollow gaps, while hardener is better suited for larger holes.
Replace the wood. If the structure, like a deck, is affected, it's best to replace the damaged wooden planks with new ones.
- You can either do this yourself or hire someone to do it, depending on your situation.
