Termites ruin homes, so knowing the major signs of termites early on can save you a ton of money. Once any key signs of termites are found, it’s important to contact a pest control company to prevent any more damages. Here are the top three signs of termites.
 
Termite Swarmers
Termites begin colonization after the queen gives birth to winged termites, which are known as swarmers or alates. Swarmers will fly around a home until they find the perfect spot in the soil next to the foundation. Then the swarmers will begin reproduction of the new colony within their burrows underneath the soil. Swarmers are typically found during the months of March through June and are about a half inch long, with four wings. Recognizing these winged termites is important because it’s the beginning of a termite infestation.
Mud Tunnels/Shelters
Once a colony of termites has been formed, small mud tunnels that act as sheltered highways to their food sources can usually be found on the foundation of a home. The size of the mud tunnels can be anywhere from the width of an ink pen to several inches wide. Identifying the mud tunnels on your home is one of major signs of termites, and termite control should be contacted as soon as possible.
Property Damage
Termites destroy the structures of homes and furniture – it’s nothing new. However, they don’t only eat wood. Termites are known to consume many other materials such as drywall, plaster and even some metals. Unfortunately, by the time any property damages from termites are discovered, the termite issue could already be a full-blown infestation. Don’t panic though, a pest control company can easily take care of the problem.
If any of these major signs of termites are identified, contact a professional termite control service such as Dustin Pest Control.
One of the biggest enemies in pest control is termites. While some house damage and pest infestations cannot be stopped, there are some preventative measures that you can take. Continue reading to learn five different ways you can actively prevent termites.
Known as the silent destroyers termites can go unnoticed for months or even years. While a termite infestation may not be easy to spot early on there are some smaller signs you should be aware of.
Termites eat wood from the inside out so while there may not be any visible damage you can typically hear a change inside the wood. Tap on the wood from the outside you may notice that it sounds less solid and more hollow than before. If the wood sounds hollow there is a good chance you have termites.
After flying termites have mated they shed their wings before forming new colonies. Because termites are social insects this tends to happen in large quantities. Swamps of these wood-eating pests can contain anywhere from 60,000 to 1 million termites. Termite wings are thin and resemble fish scales or tiny feathers.
Flying termites are often confused with carpenter ants so it’s important to remember that Carpenter ants do not shed their wings the way termites do. If you notice discarded wings assume they are from termites and call a professional pest control company.
Mud tubes are tunnels construction of soil and wood created by termites for travel. Termites build mud tubes to protect themselves as they travel to and from their nest to their food source. They are normally found on the outside of homes. To test to see if a tunnel is still being used you can destroy a section of the tube in the center. If the tube is repaired, then the colony is still active and living there.
Being aware of these small but powerful signs can help you stop a termite infestation earlier than if you only depended on visible wood damage. If you notice any of these symptoms give Dustin Pest Control a call to schedule your termite inspection.
