Termites are an insect species that live social lives in giant colonies, and they eat mostly wood and other cellulose-based materials. However, despite having jaws strong enough to chew through wood, their bites do not pose a risk, and the bites are very rare. The true danger when dealing with termites is the damage that they can do to the home.
Can a termite bite you?
The truth is that even if a termite wanted to bite you, it would have a very hard time doing it. This is because termites are very reclusive insects, spending most of their lives inside their colonies. One of the main reasons for this is the fact that termites quickly dry out when they are in the open. They need the moisture trapped inside their colonies to survive. So soldiers and workers will almost never be seen outside.
However, winged reproductive termites also known as swarmers or alates, will fly out of the colony in search for new nesting locations. These termites will not bite you either, but if you see them around the home, you have something else to worry about – either there is a colony on your property or there may soon be one.
What if you do actually get bitten by a termite?
Although highly unlikely, it’s not entirely impossible to get bitten by a termite. Due to the size of termites and their complete lack of any type of venom, a bite will be very mild, but it could be susceptible to infection if it pierces the skin. Make sure to wash the area of the bite with water and soap, and that you apply a cold compress if you are experiencing any discomfort.
The true danger of termite infestations
Termites are not dangerous because of their bites or because of the diseases that they spread. They are a threat because of the amount of damage they are able to do to your home. One subterranean termite colony, if left unchecked, will eventually end up costing you thousands of dollars in repair and control costs. To prevent this huge expense, you can either check for the signs of an infestation yourself, or hire a pro to perform regular termite inspections. If you have a termite infestation, or if you would like to set up an appointment for an inspection procedure, contact us today.
