The thing about termites is that they can do a lot of damage if left unchecked. If you do not have your home checked for termites often enough then the first outward signs you see may only be visible after a lot of damage has already been caused; this is because termites eat the wood in your home from the inside out. Before you start panicking too much, it’s worth saying that termites do work relatively slowly so if you keep up to date with inspections you should not have a problem.
If you want to arrange to have your home inspected for termites, you should call a Wheaton exterminator for help. If you have had an issue with termites in the past, or you live in an area where there is a high incidence rate for termites, you should arrange an inspection every year. In all other cases a bi-annual inspection should be sufficient. We are going to take a look at what the pest control experts will look for. We are going to concentrate on subterranean termites as they tend to be the most common.
Winged termites
Each spring winged termites called alates fly from established colonies to create their own nests. These alates are produced in colonies over a period of a few years. If you see a lot of winged termites around your home then this could be a sign that there is a nest close by and the termites are looking to use your home as a source of wood. These termites will try their best to get inside your home so you may see groups of them loitering around closed windows and doors. It’s easy to get confused between winged ants and termites unless you know the difference. Here are some points to look out for:
- The rear wings of an ant are smaller than the front ones; this is not the case with termites.
- Termites are fatter around the waist.
- Ants had crooked antennae; the antennae of termites are straight.
Mud tubes
If you see pencil thick tubes of mud material around your property this is a good indication that there are termites about. These tubes are one of the first things that a pest control expert looks for. Termites build these tubes to preserve humidity levels as they travel around and to protect them from predators. Termites cannot survive without humidity as they dry out.
Hollow sounding wood structures
You may not be able to see any difference in the wooden structures of your home, but do not forget that termites eat wood from the inside first. A pest control expert will often be able to tap on the wood in your home and listen for the sound it makes. Tapping on hollow wood elicits a different sound which can indicate the presence of termites eating way inside.
These are just some of the things a pest control expert looks out for when they carry out their annual or bi-annual inspection of your home for termites.