TERMITES

​

Subterranean Termites

Length: 1/8 inch

Color: Creamy white to dark brown/black

Termites can be beneficial because they help release nutrients from deadwood and other cellulose materials into the soil. For home and business owners they are a serious pest, 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 termites swarmers, most often, is the first visible indicator of a termite infestation. Swarmers 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. The male and female swarmers pair up to start new colonies in the soil, but most will not survive. 

The broken off wings is another visible indicator of a termite infestation; many times people will see loose wings lying around.  

Mud tubes can be seen on the inside or outside of structures, which is another sign of termite infestation. Termites need lots of moisture to survive, so they build mud tunnels to protect themself  from the air which can dry them out, and to protect themselves from their natural enemies, the ants. 

Damaged wood can also be a possible sign of termites, a good way to tell is to take an object like a small hammer and tap on the wood and listen for the hollow sound of damaged wood. 

Termite damage can also be seen on drywall, the termites eat the cellulose or paper backing, you can sometimes see the outline of their tunnel they have made in the drywall.

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

        Termites                                                    Ants

Have straight antennae.                      Have elbowed antennae                   

Have a broad waist.                              Have a thin, pinched waist

Have four wings of equal size.            Have two large wings and two small wings