Insects are innovative and pesky creatures. Rodents and mice can get through small cracks in a home and get into the kitchens, pantries, and other places where you don’t want them. Ants and cockroaches sneak through other openings in the home and can carry with them bacteria that spread disease. When you notice cobwebs in the corners of a room you can be assured that you were visited by spiders.
Of all the pests that find their way into your home, the ones that can be the sneakiest are termites. While the other pests will typically leave signs of their infestation, termites will often leave no visible trace. These insects can go on for years while eating away the wood of a home undetected. However, if you are aware of the signs to look for with a termite infestation and where to look you may be able to head off a larger problem. We are a Grand Rapids exterminator and here are some of our tips for early warning signs of a termite inspection
It is very important that as a homeowner you know the signs to look for when it comes to a termite infestation. Being aware of this could save you thousands of dollars in costly repair costs. Did you know that termites in the United States cost U.S. home and business owners over $5 billion each year. That is more than all natural disasters combined. If termites are left untreated, termites can eat away at the wood of a home, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without ever sleeping, and without ever taking a break.
This adds up over time and an infestation such as this can lead to issues with walls and floors, doors and windows that may refuse to open or close, and wood that is unsafe to talk on. Below is a list of warning signs that you should look for in order to avoid extensive and costly damage to your home or business.
Termite Signs To Look and listen For
Termites in your yard or on your property: If you have stumps that are rotting or other forms of decaying wood outside your home, make sure you do an inspection for the presence of termites. If you break off part of a stump and see a mass of little white things that resemble ants, you are likely looking at termite workers. And if termites are nearby to your home, there is a chance they have found their way inside your walls and other wooden areas of your structure. Termite workers can travel as much as the length of a football field in search of food.
Termite damage on the outside of your home: If you have places on the outside of your home where the wood touches the soil (especially if it is in a moist, shady spot) look for evidence of termite activity. If the wood looks like it has been attacked by carving knives and the troughs are rough to the touch, you can be relatively sure termites have been at work in that location. Galleries made by carpenter ants, another wood-destroying pest, will be smooth.
Translucent, shed insect wings: While shed wings can be indicative of a flying ant swarm, those wings could be termite swarmer wings. When a termite colony is mature, it will send out termite reproductives, also called alates or termite swarmers, to start new colonies. If termite swarmers have come and gone, you may find their shed wings in places such as on window sills, on decks or patios, on foundation walls, or even caught in spider webs.
Termite swarmers: It is rare to actually see termite swarmers since they only appear once or twice a year, and only for around 1/2 an hour. But if you do see these on the outside of your home, you can be assured there is a mature colony close by, and maybe even inside your structure. If you see these swarmers inside your home, this is a sure sign you already have an active termite infestation.
Mud shelter tubes: These are tubes that worker termites build from the soil to the wood in order to shelter themselves from the harmful effects of the sun and air. These are most often found in hidden, shady spots on foundations or crawl space cement blocks. Sometimes they are even built up through concrete blocks, making them even more difficult to spot.
Noises inside walls: If there is a location on your home that is infested with termites, you may be able to hear noises if you have great hearing, or you use a stethoscope. The noises you may hear come from soldier termites banging their heads against the walls to signal danger. It will sound like a faint clicking noise. If soldiers do not perceive danger, you won’t hear anything at all.
Why Year-Round Termite Prevention Is So Important
Termites are a multi-billion dollar problem for property owners here in the United States and termite damage is rarely covered by insurance companies because insurance companies consider termite damage preventable with routine maintenance. The problem is that most homeowners do not have the training to apply this maintenance effectively. But, when trusted products are applied by a certified professional, termites are no threat at all.
If you need termite protection for your home, Unified Pest Control can help. We are known for bee removal in Grand Rapids. One of our pest control technicians can guide you in choosing the best treatment option for your needs. And, if you’re currently dealing with an infestation, we’ll help you get back to being bug-free.
Michelle Joe is a blogger by choice. She loves to discover the world around her. She likes to share her discoveries, experiences, and express herself through her blogs.