Signs of Termites

Finding out that you have a significant pest problem is unpleasant. Discovering that those same critters have caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage can be debilitating. Termites will eat the floor right out from under you as they feed on the very bones of your house. They are also difficult to spot and their destruction can be mistaken for other types of damage.

Termites won’t do you any personal harm at all, they don’t bite and aren’t interested in your food pantry. What they are after can leave your home destroyed. Insulation, books, paper...anything wood-like will draw them. Your trees and shrubs outside are not safe either, and you might go a long time without realizing they have taken up residence.

To help you avoid the ravaging of these nasty little things here are 5 indicators to be aware of:

Piles of Discarded Wings

Termites will swarm in the spring and shed their wings. You can spot these in window frames or door thresholds. While a mound of wings is not enough evidence in itself, as other insects shed their wings, there are some identifying factors you can look for. All the wings will be the same size. Flying ants do not have uniformity in their wing size. If you spot a few bodies, you can tell by looking at them. Ants will have segmented bodies, termites do not.

Insect Bodies

Speaking of those bodies, take a closer look if you can find any. Doing that is not always easy as they avoid areas that are regularly trafficked. It is worth doing a little looking if you suspect their presence. When you spot some, remember the non-segmented bodies and also that there are no white ants, as termites will sometimes be. Be cautious about color identification though, as termites can be white, brown, or black. Termite will also have straight antennae.

Affected Wood

These insects are busy eating your house, so a sure sign that they are there is hollowed-out wood. If your suspicious of wood then give it a knock. It is easy to hear hallow wood. The surface might show cracking or splitting, or maybe the damage is more intensive and obvious. They will follow the grain and eat it from the inside out. Looking for sagging floors, peeling paint, or otherwise affected areas of the home just might lead you to termites.

Doors and Windows 

A less than obvious indicator that you have unwelcome guests is that doors and windows that had no issues before have become more difficult to open. This is often attributed to changes in the weather, and of course, it can be that. Termites give off a lot of moisture as they eat, and this water will warp the wood in your home, making doors and windows tighter than they had been. It is worth investigating if you are noticing this in your home. Also look for bubbling paint or soft uneven trim around window and door frames.

Mud Tunnels

Certain termites cannot allow their bodies to dry out. To retain moisture, they construct little tunnels from damp soil. These conceal their movement, to protect from predators, and keep them from drying out. Termites will build them from their colony to their food source. These tunnels could be on any hard surface where you suspect termite activity. 

It is worth the time and effort to do your due diligence and take a good hard look around your property. If you have seen wing piles, suspect you're seeing droppings, or noticed what you first dismissed as dead ants around, then you need to do a thorough inspection. The path of destruction that these pesky insects can leave is truly massive. The sooner you use these indicators and discover an infestation, the better. Every day counts!