According to the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage yearly. To protect against termites, experts advise that homeowners watch carefully for a few small-but-vital signs that termites are invading their homes. ((National Pest Management Association (NPMA) – “Press Releases – Termite Season Starts Off With Swarms” ))
Termite Swarms
The most obvious sign of termites is a visible swarm. Terminex advises that these swarms typically occur from February through May when the temperatures rise, and the air is moist. The swarm usually comes from a nearby established colony. Its purpose is to set up a new colony. Look for the termite characteristic of long wings equal in size and a thin body. Also, look for tiny wings scattered around the outside or around windowsills. Termites shed their wings after flight. ((Terminex – “Termite Swarm Season: What Happens Next?))
Mud Tubes/Shelter Tubes
According to the experts at The University of California’s Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, one of the most common signs of a termite problem is shelter tubes, also called mud tubes. Subterranean termites require moist environments to survive. These tubes provide the moisture and shelter necessary while the termite travels and works. The workers make these tubes with saliva and hardened bits of wood. ((UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program – “Termites Management Guidelines–UC IPM“))
These tunnels are roughly the size of a pencil and can be either freestanding, perhaps from a ledge or awning, or run along the walls of a house from the ground up. Follow the mud tube from beginning to end, and it will eventually disappear into the side of the home to which it is attached. These tubes are the termites’ transportation system from the ground into a house. ((UMass Amherst: Building and Construction Technology – “Controlling Termites and Carpenter Ants” ))
Wood Damage
While damage to the home will not be initially apparent, after a while, the homeowner affected by termites will begin to notice that wall studs, baseboards, and floors that were once dense-sounding are now hollow. ((UMass Amherst: Building and Construction Technology – “Controlling Termites and Carpenter Ants” )) One scenario that is a common occurrence in the southern United States is the invasion of Formosan termites. These are the most destructive termites known in the U.S. While Formosan termites are subterranean, they also nest above ground in a carton nest built with termite excrement, chewed wood, and soil. They can often be found in spaces between walls. ((The University of Florida – Entomology & Nematology – “Formosan Subterranean Termites“))
