Termites can quietly devastate a structure. They continually reproduce and their colonies grow larger with each passing year. Because they tend to stay inside of the wood they are eating and creating many tiny tunnels inside, they are often very difficult to identify. Lucky for us homeowners however, it is possible to learn and identify the evidence of termites and to spot some of these signs by conducting a routine inspection at least every 6 months.
Anyone Can Learn To Identify Evidence Of Termites And The Damage They Cause…. Here’s How To Do It By Yourself!
You can identify any of these quite easily yourself if you just know what to look for. If you have never heard of any of the below, don’t worry you will know how to spot them and where to look for them by the end of this article and cut down on your treatment costs by conducting your own inspection
-Note (if you discover any of these signs it is a good idea to have a professional pest control member do a thorough inspection to determine the extent and type of infestation.)
- Termite Frass (Excrement of Termites)
- Termite Swarmers (Adult Termites With Wings)
- Discarded Termite Wings (Evidence of Prior Swamers)
- Mud Tubes (Entry Points of Subterranean Termites)
Table of Contents
- Termite Frass: If Their Pooping, Their Eating
- Termite Swarmers: Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?
- Discarded Termite Wings – Evidence of Prior Swarmers
Termite Frass: If Their Pooping, Their Eating
Since drywood termites tunnel inside wood, they naturally have to poop. When they have been tunneling and pooping a lot they begin to fill up their tunnels with their excrement which is known as frass or drywood frass. In order to conduct a little housekeeping they will make tiny holes in the surface of the wood they are tunneling in so they can let their droppings fall out.
These little pellets look like wood and are sometimes confused with sawdust. Take a look at the picture and video to have a better idea of what it looks like. This is a telltale sign of an infestation of drywood termites.
Whatever frass you might find in your home understand there is much more inside the wood of the infested area. It is usually best to call an exterminator upon discovering any frass and have them assess the situation.
Termite Swarmers: Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?
When most (not all) termites reach an adult stage of life they grow wings and fly away in search of new wood to feed on. As their colonies continually reproduce and grow they need more food so naturally they send out the winged-ones to find some fresh wood inside of which they can keep expanding their colony.
If you find a group of these winged termites known as termite swarmers then you have discovered one of two things. Either the termites are attempting to enter the site where you have found swarmers or they have already been there long enough to reach adulthood and are now “leaving the nest.” If they are leaving and have already reached adulthood then there may have been some significant damage created by their tunneling within your structure. If they are just arriving then you can easily take care of the problem
Discarded Termite Wings – Evidence of Prior Swarmers
Mud Tubes – Subterranean Termite Entry Points
If you find these little mud tubes around the outside of your house then there has likely been some activity by subterranean termites. These little pests are different from their drywood cousins in their preference of wood
I think contacting a professional pest control service is the best option for termite problems because they can seriously damage a house.
I agree with you Kasey. The professionals can spot termite activity the best because they have the experience and tools necessary to do so. However, it is also good to keep an eye out for signs of termite activity yourself so that you know when to call the pest professionals.