Termites continue to be a major problem for homes, businesses, and properties across the country as well as right here in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland and are responsible for millions of dollars in structural damages each year. If you do not already maintain a termite control service, you could be at risk for extensive and costly damages to your structure. Although there is not a lot you can do to prevent these pests from accessing your property, you can catch them early and eliminate the threat by knowing the signs of termites. Your local termite control experts at Viking Pest Control would like to share the most common signs of termites so you can be prepared to battle back if they do decide to invade your property.
What Are the Most Commons Signs of Termites to Look Out For?
The most common species of termites found in the NJ, PA, MD, and DE area are the Eastern subterranean termites. These guys form their colonies underground, which makes them hard to detect in some cases. Aside from feeding on wood, they also enjoy feeding on the cellulose from leaf litter, soil, and dung. Due to their less picky eating habits, (drywall termites are selective in their choice of food) this leaves pretty much everyone’s property, including inside homes, subject to an infestation. In order to avoid the costly damages of termite infestations, here are some of the most common signs of a termite infestation:
- Because termites live underground, they use mud tunnels as a means of traveling so they do not have to fully surface and risk drying out and dying. If you notice mud tunnels on your property this is a good indicator that a termite colony is nearby. Where might you find termite mud tunnels and what do they look like? If your home or business has termites, you might find mud tunnels around the framing, near pipes, in the crawlspace or attic, or around other access points. When termites can’t gain access by eating through a material like concrete or metal, they dig tunnels around it. Subterranean mud tunnels are ¼ -1 inch in diameter. They can be straight or winding and can be seen easily along exterior concrete walls or a home’s framing. Termite mud tunnels come in different forms, take a look below for a visual of what you might see if termites are present on your property.
- A termite swarm is another, more obvious indicator of termites. In the early spring, the winged reproductive termites are released from the colony in an attempt to find a mate and form a new colony. There are sometimes thousands of swarming termites which is a scary sight if it is taking place near, or even inside of your home. Refer to our blog about termite swarmers, to get more information on this.
- The last sign of termites is structural damage. This is a tough thing to spot right away as most of the destruction takes place from the inside of the wood. Termites are known for hollowing out wood and leaving it weak and flimsy. So it could be on accident that you happen to notice a piece of wood that was once dense, suddenly crumbles.
If you have detected any of these signs of termites in your home or on your property, it is important to contact your local pest control experts at Viking Pest Control right away! Termites are not a “fix it yourself” project and it will only cost you more money in the end if you do effectively take care of the problem.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about termite pest control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!
