Termites

Eastern Subterranean Termites Reticulitermes flavipes

Length: 1/8 inch

Color: Creamy white to dark brown/black

Termites are a serious problem for home and business owners, approximately $4.5 billion is spent annually in the United States to control the subterranean termite infestation and repair the damage they cause.

There are signs to look for that might indicate you have a possible termite infestation in your home or business. 

• Seeing termite swarmer's or their broken-off wings can be a possible sign of a termite infestation. Swarmer's also known as reproductives, have two pairs of long narrow wings of equal size, they are dark in color, almost black. Although they have wings they are poor fliers, after their brief flight their wings are then broken off. Sometimes the wings of the swarmer's will be found near window sills and doors. After their wings are broken off the male and female swarmer's pair up to start new colonies in the soil, but most will not survive. 

• Mud tubes can be seen on the inside or outside of structures often near the foundation, which is a sign of termite infestation. Termites need lots of moisture to survive, so they build mud tunnels to protect them from the air which can dry them out, and protect them from ants. 

• Damaged wood can also be a possible sign of termite infestation, and the wood may sound hollow when tapped. Often when people are remodeling they will see signs of termite damage in the structure.

• Uneven or bubbling paint can be a possible termite sign but, it can also be due to water damage.

• Termite damage can sometimes be seen on drywall, the termites eat the cellulose or paper backing off the drywall, and the outline of the tunnel they have made in the drywall can sometimes be seen.

Often winged ants are mistaken for termite swarmer's, the way to distinguish between the two is:

Termites                                                        

Have straight antennae.                               

Have a thick waist.   

Have TWO pairs of wings of equal length      

Winged Ants

Have elbowed antennae

Have a thin waist

Have 2 pairs of wings of unequal length