One of the worst pest infestations that you can find in your home is a termite infestation, but if you can spot it early on, you can save a lot of money. In this article, we’re going to cover some of the signs that will let you know if you have a termite infestation.
Mud tunnels
Most termites cannot survive out in the open, because they do not have a protective shell or exoskeleton. This means that they have to get creative when they have to travel outside of the colony. For subterranean termites, this means using mud tunnels. The mud tunnel looks what it sounds like – it is a tunnel made of mud, usually one inch thick, that comes out of the ground, over an obstacle, and connects to a piece of wood. If you spot one of these tunnels on your home, that is 100% confirmation that you have an infestation.
Swarmers
When a termite colony reaches maturity, it enters the reproductive stage, in which it tries to create new nests. This is where the swarmers come in, which are winged, reproductive termites that will be future kings and queens of new colonies. When you see these swarmers flying around, it means that there is a colony nearby, and you should be particularly alarmed if you see swarmers inside your home. That means that there is a mature colony inside the building and you will need to call over a pest control pro.
Frass and small holes in the wood
Drywood termite colonies are built inside of the wood that is being consumed, and these colonies need a way to get rid of the waste that they generate. For this purpose, they will make tiny holes in the wood, known as exit holes, and through these holes, the workers will push out the frass. The frass is just the waste of the colony, and it resembles sawdust. If you see holes in the wood, and below them, you have these small piles of sawdust, you can be sure that you have an infestation.
What to do in case you notice these signs
As soon as you notice one of these signs, you should call over a pest control pro for an inspection. We can help you out with this. Contact us today if you suspect that you have termite infestation and we will help you remove it.
