Termites are one pest that no homeowner wants to find in their house. Termites can do permanent damage and go unknown until the harm is severe. They can penetrate your home’s foundation, chew through your walls, and endanger the stability of your home. Termites, in a nutshell, are usually terrible news. So, if you start finding termite signs in your house, you should pay special attention. However, if you’ve never had termites in wall treatment before or are ignorant of the harm that various termite species can cause, you’re probably unaware of the tell-tale indicators of termites. If this describes you, you’ve come to the correct spot.
Termites in Your Home: 7 Tell-Tale Signs
1. Damaged Wood
Damaged wood is the most typical sign of termites. Termites feed from the inside out, leaving a characteristic pattern on the wood. The wood becomes hollow and fragile, and if they nibble on your house, they may cause severe structural damage. At first glance, damaged wood may not appear to be harmed. You may detect creaking or swaying wood, as well as more difficult-to-open doors and windows. Under strain, wood may also crumble or buckle.
2. Termite mud tubes
Subterranean termites build mud tubes across surfaces to protect themselves from predators and the environment, as well as to provide safe travel between the colony and their food supply. You’ll know you’ve found termites on the wall as soon as you notice them. These mud tubes are one of the most noticeable termite signs. Termites are known for not just creating tubes, but also mounds. Termite mounds are common in tropical and subtropical areas, therefore you’re unlikely to come across one in your own backyard!
3. Termite Tunnels
Subterranean termites in the wall build mud tubes across surfaces to protect themselves from predators and the environment, as well as to provide safe travel between the colony and their food supply. You’ll know you’ve found termites as soon as you notice them. These mud tubes are one of the most noticeable termite signs. Termites are known for not just creating tubes, but also mounds. Termite mounds are common in tropical and subtropical areas, therefore you’re unlikely to come across one in your own backyard!
3. Swarming insects
Swarmers emerge from termite colonies every year in pursuit of a new colony. Swarmers are flying adult termites that are thought to be the future kings and queens of a new colony. The key distinctions between swarmers and flying ants are the antennae, body shape, and wing length. Contact a pest specialist if you notice a swarm of what appear to be termites near your property. They will be able to tell you if you are dealing with ants, small insects on walls or termites.
4. Wings that have been discarded
The dropping of swarmer wings is a major sign of termites. They will lose their wings immediately before choosing a new breeding place after they have formed a swarm. If you notice mounds of abandoned wings about your property, you most likely have active termites.
5. Droppings
After wood consumption, termite feces, also known as frass, are left behind. These droppings are usually wood-colored and can be seen around afflicted trees. Frass is sometimes compared as a mound of salt and pepper. If you see termite frass, their entrance point is nearby. Look for a little hole in the wall above the pile of droppings. You’ll know exactly where termites are after you’ve found the hole.
6. Snapping Sounds
We’re not sure what bothers us more when it comes to termites. Not only do termites leave behind droppings and abandoned wings, but you can also hear them gnawing on the wood within your walls. Because termites are noisy eaters, you can probably hear them chewing away at your house if you put your ear up to the wall. When they sense impending danger, soldier termites will also shake their bodies and bang their heads against the wood. This assists in alerting the colony to possible threats. It’s interesting to note that termites have extremely sensitive organs in their legs and at the base of their antennae that allow them to detect vibrations and sounds.
7. Vacant Noises
Try tapping on the wood if you think termites are causing damage to your walls or other structural components. If wood sounds hollow, termite damage may be present. In that scenario, always exercise caution! Inadequate termite control and immediate wood repair could lead to dangerous living conditions in cases of damaged floors or structural supports.
Ways to Handle Termites in Your Walls
Future damage can be substantial if termites in drywall are ignored at the first signs. When there is a termite infestation, it is best to act quickly. Here are some options to consider if you notice any warning signs of an issue.
Install termite baits. Put termite baits wherever you believe the infestation to be within your home.
Use a termiticide. To get rid of termites or white bugs, a chemical called termiticide can be sprayed inside walls or into crevices. The majority of termiticides are safe to use indoors; however, check the instructions for your particular product.
Make a pest-control call. Termite removal is typically a task best left to the pros. A termite control service will check for the insects throughout your entire property and then provide a personalized plan for getting rid of them.