Each year, termites cause serious damage to structures and fields in the hottest and driest areas. Experts estimate that homeowners spend billions every year on infestations and repairing damage done by termites. Immediate detection is essential to limit the destructive capacity of a colony, but it can be difficult. Owners rarely see termites lurking underground and devouring wood from the inside, but there are ways to detect their presence. If you live in regions infested with these voracious beasts, follow these guidelines to learn how to recognize the signs of their damage.
Steps
Step 1. Learn to distinguish termites from other household pests
Termites are just one of the various types of pests that damage homes. Certain types of ants and beetles also feed on wood. It is important to identify the parasite to take the right path of disinfestation of the colony. The easiest way to understand if your home is prey to termites or other parasites is to examine the insect closely. Termites have some characteristics different from ants and cockroaches.
- Working termites are often yellowish and have soft bodies. Carpenter ants and cockroaches tend to be much darker and have exoskeletons.
- Termites have straight antennae, very different from the "elbow" ones of carpenter ants.
- Since termites are usually hidden from view, it is easier to determine the type of infestation by examining the winged version of the insect. When a termite colony grows large enough, winged spawners will sprout to create a new colony. It is called a "swarm", and it is the only moment in which termites come out of the closet. Look at the insect's wings. Termites have two pairs of wings of the same size. Carpenter ants have much longer front wings than their rear wings. Cockroaches have a pair of rigid wings that protect the more delicate ones used for flying. The rigid wings are part of the insect's exoskeleton and open during flight.
- Termites do not have a discernible waistline along the body. Carpenter ants have a very noticeable pedicel that connects the thorax and abdomen.
Step 2. Look for other signs of termite infestation
By looking closely, you may be able to find clues to termite infestations, even if you can't see the insect itself. Visual signs of a termite colony can include:
- “Tubular shelters” ranging from the ground to visible wood. When subterranean termites use up their natural resource of wood, they move on to structures. They do this by building passageways, or pipes, small and closed, to ensure a safe passage in the construction. The tubes are made of earth, saliva, feces and other materials. The tubes indicate that the termites are active, and if so, steps must be taken to get rid of them.
- Dry wood termites live inside wooden buildings, including structural timber, furniture and parquet. Living within the areas they feed on, they almost never show themselves outside the colony. However, they leave signs of their presence, for example by pushing excrement (also known as "frass") outside the tunnels and rooms. These wood-colored piles pile up on the floor, underneath the haunted pieces of wood.
- Carpenter ants also release scraps from satellite nests in log homes. They are distinguished from ash because they normally include various materials and the piles are cone-shaped along any cracks in the baseboards.
Step 3. Listen for clues
When conducting a periodic inspection of your home, tap wood parts with a large screwdriver. If the wood looks hollow, it may have been damaged by wood pests. Keep a stethoscope or other device in your home against several walls. You won't be able to hear the termites, but carpenter ants make a slight rustle as they move through the ducts.
Step 4. Inspect the wood for damage
If you suspect a termite infestation, remove a piece of wood from the area, if possible. Different types of termites leave significantly different traces of wood damage.
- Subterranean termites devour soft wood and eat along the grain. This produces a clear honeycomb pattern in the wood. It is essential to stop this type of termite as soon as the infestation is discovered. One type, the “Formosan” termite, is particularly voracious due to its large population. Colonies of this type can comprise millions of specimens. If not kept in check, these pests can inflict serious damage on homes, fences and telephone masts.
- Drywood termites dig large sections of wood by chewing along and against the grain. Their appearance is serious, but not as serious as that of the subterranean termite. Colonies of this type usually only have a few thousand members and take many years to reach that figure. Even once reached, the entire colony eats about 200 grams of wood per year.
