How do I know If I have termites?

There is a good chance you wouldn’t know you have subterranean termites unless you had a thorough inspection done on your home. In the spring the reproductive termites (Swarmers) will emerge from the colony looking to make a new one. They swarm out of their colony several times throughout the spring months, many times they are mistaken for flying ants with their small bodies and wings, but there is way you can tell them apart. The swarmer has no segments to its body unlike the ant that has three segments. Subterranean termites will shed their wings only after mating and starting a new colony. These Swarmers do not do structural damage.

Subterranean termites are found all over the United States except for Alaska, they are responsible for over two billion in structural damages every year leaving a negative impact on your home. A termite colony can reach from sixty thousand- two million, it will usually take five to ten years for a colony to reach this size. The type of termites that do all the damage are called the workers, they are small white or bague about a 1/4 inch or less. They are hardly ever seen because they live under the soil mostly, they forage through the soil looking for a food source. They are drawn to moisture and heat, making your home a prime target. They can get through cracks smaller than 1/16” wide. They travel through mud tubes that they built so they’re not exposed to daylight, that would kill them. The soldiers are the type of termite that guards the colony from potential enemies like ants.

Your home is most likely one of your largest purchases you will make, when you are buying a house, you should always have a wood destroying insect inspection done before the closing. This will give you peace of mind that termites and other wood destroying insects are not present in your home. If Termites are found during inspection, you should hire a licensed pest control company to help you get rid of the problem.