Termite activity will not be visible for a while because they eat the interior of wooden structures without leaving much evidence. Significant damage can occur before termites are even discovered.
The best way to prevent extensive damage is to identify a problem early and treat the infestation as soon as possible. Recognizing signs of termite activity is critical to early detection.
The first potential sign your property is under threat is seeing an actual termite swarm. This cloud of flying termites are fertile reproductives sent from another colony to establish a new one. Swarms generally occur in spring and fall when a colony reaches capacity.
May mean damage has not been inflicted yet. The swarm has not settled on a new location. Get professional help immediately.
Somewhere in the swarm is a brand-new queen and king ready to find a colony location and start producing eggs.
Finding piles of discarded wings is an even worse indicator. Once swarmers identify a new home, they chew or rub their wings off and become workers. Finding wings means the colony is new, close by, and relatively small. This is the best early sign of detection possible.
Early detection prevents thousands in damage. Get an inspection today.
Call (866) 326-2847Drywood termites are common in warm climates. They live inside wooden structures, leaving runways, galleries, and chambers. They sometimes break the exterior to release waste or accidentally while expanding.
Used by workers to push termite waste out of galleries. Prevents obstruction inside tunnels.
Accidental surface breaches are promptly closed with a cellulose and saliva mix that can be easily brushed off.
Found in little piles. Looks like sawdust or coffee grinds. Under magnification: short ovals with rounded tips and 6 sides.
Subterranean and Formosan termites are found all over the United States. They colonize the ground under your home and build pathways to wooden structures. Much more concerning because their reproduction rate can take down a home in a few years.
Subterranean termites use a mix of liquid waste, saliva, and dirt to create mud tubes from the colony opening to wooden substructures. Found under your home, patio, crawlspaces, and inside cracks in the foundation.
Warning: Signs of wood damage do not appear until later. By the time wood starts to deform or buckle, there is usually significant damage already done.
Generally from subterranean termites. Cavities introduce moisture causing warping. Termites that reach floor substructures also access load-bearing structures.
Hollow sound or crumbling during inspection indicates termites. They leave a brittle shell of walls between runways and chambers.
Termites breach wood surface without penetrating paint layer. Air pockets form below paint, causing bubbling and sagging.
"Galleries" form a winding maze connecting to royal chamber and eggs. Rarely seen unless wood is broken apart. If visible, infestation has existed some time.
Swarms sometimes occupy a tree on your property before finding a way to reach your home. Monitor and inspect trees regularly. Termites' natural role is to break down dead and dying trees into nutrients.
Important: Dead trees pose a significant threat and should be removed. They provide a perfect home for a swarm of termites to occupy.
If you have seen any signs of termites or termite activity, call EcoGuard Pest Management to schedule an inspection today. Our licensed inspectors will conduct a thorough examination to check for signs of damage. If termites are found, we will create a custom treatment plan to completely exterminate them.
Termite swarmers are usually the first sign of infestation. If you see active swarmers, a colony has released them to find a new location, indicating a healthy colony nearby or a new termite problem on your property.
The best way to tell is to have a thorough termite inspection done by a licensed pest control technician who can check your house for termites.
Termites make an audible clicking sound at night from workers biting cellulose. Look for kick-out holes covered in mud-like substance with piles of termite frass below.
Ants and carpenter ants often get mistaken for termites. Worker termites have soft white bodies, while ants are black or red with hard exoskeletons.
