Termites can easily build their homes on your property or inside your home for a longer period of time before they're detected. If you spot even one termite, it means a large colony is living nearby, and they can cause structural damage to the house or property.
It's not difficult to figure out that they are staying inside a house. There are many indications of their presence, like hollow-sounding wood, wood damage beneath the floors or walls, drywall damage, and squeaky floors. Additionally, a termite infestation leaves more signatures behind, including mud tubes, discarded wings, swarmers(flying termites), frass(termite droppings), and mouldy scents.
This blog has all the warning signs to minimise the damage.
Understanding a Termite Infestation
A termite infestation occurs when a colony of termites enters a house or any property. A colony can consist of over a million members, including a queen, workers, soldiers, and other reproductive termites. Many areas of countries experience termite swarms in the spring, which is a favourable time for their growth, but they can also be seen in the fall. Depending on the species and the termite's social status, they can live from 2 to 50 years and can have an extended lifespan.
They survive on cellulose found in wood, paper and cardboard. Thus, it's easier for termites to wipe out the existence of a dead tree or other plant material as they eat the cellulose residing inside these materials. However, wherever you live, termites' hunger for cellulose can cause serious structural deterioration. Importantly, different kinds of termites leave specific signs of their presence behind. Here are some common signs to detect their presence inside a house or any other structure.
-
Termite swarmers
-
Hollow-sounding wood
-
Blistered floors
-
Mud tubes
-
Frass or pellets
Signs of Termites' Presence
Here are some signs that reflect a hidden or visible termite infestation.
Frass: Evidence of Termites
Frass is a primary sign of termites' hidden activity, often resembling sawdust or wood shavings. Wood is home to drywood termites, where they make tunnels, eat through it, and leave behind droppings. Most frass or droppings are one millimetre long and look like mounds of pellets, appearing as black marks or a dark powdery substance. Also, they are found near the woods, like attics.
Visible Wood Damage
If any damage is visible on the surface of any wood, it's a key indicator of a termite infestation. Termites are drawn towards bare or rotted wood, especially. Subterranean termites get attracted to wet-rotted wood to prevent the wood from drying out during their nesting period.
Outer Degradation
Do investigate trees near the house for any small holes, or wood shavings, as well as discarded wings or dead termites. Once you dig around the roots below the soil line, you can notice holes and other things.
Never ignore these signs because insignificant problems can turn out to be a disaster. Instead, keep an eye around the root of the tree as severe termite damage may lead to a tree falling on the house, in the garden or backyard. Additionally, termites can also find a way inside the house due to their infestation in trees.
Wood's Bubbled Appearance
If you notice an uneven or bubbled appearance on the wood or paint in the house, it's a key indicator that the house has termites. To be sure of the termites' presence, gently tap on the suspected area. It can give you two different results. You can either hear a hollow sound or your fingernail will enter through the paint. Both of these are strong signs of termites' presence.
Clicking Sounds From Walls
Although the sounds may be coming from a boiler or AC unit, it's wise to check for any signs of termites. Termites make a clicking sound if they are living inside the wall. Soldier termites make this sound by banging their head to warn the colony of danger. Also, worker termites can make a similar sound while eating.
Flying Termites
Flying termites, also called swarmers or alates, try to look for a new colony. They are generally seen during spring after the heavy rain. They may fly near your house in this season without causing an infestation. However, it's better to check further, especially if you find their discarded wings on the property.
Bucking or Blisters
Subterranean termites can harm the subfloor, discolour the wood flooring or make a wavy appearance on the surface. If your wood flooring is buckling or has blister marks, it's an important signal of termites' presence. The damage can only be visible after they have harmed the surface below the flooring because termites like the softer subfloor wood.
Moldy Smell
Termites prefer high-moisture wood, which generally emits a mouldy smell. So, if you can smell a mouldy scent and aren't able to locate the source, reach out to the local pest control professional for an investigation, as there could be a colony of termites nearby.
Termites can easily build their homes on your property or inside your home for a longer period of time before they're detected. If you spot even one termite, it means a large colony is living nearby, and they can cause structural damage to the house or property.
It's not difficult to figure out that they are staying inside a house. There are many indications of their presence, like hollow-sounding wood, wood damage beneath the floors or walls, drywall damage, and squeaky floors. Additionally, a termite infestation leaves more signatures behind, including mud tubes, discarded wings, swarmers(flying termites), frass(termite droppings), and mouldy scents.
This blog has all the warning signs to minimise the damage.
Understanding a Termite Infestation
A termite infestation occurs when a colony of termites enters a house or any property. A colony can consist of over a million members, including a queen, workers, soldiers, and other reproductive termites. Many areas of countries experience termite swarms in the spring, which is a favourable time for their growth, but they can also be seen in the fall. Depending on the species and the termite's social status, they can live from 2 to 50 years and can have an extended lifespan.
They survive on cellulose found in wood, paper and cardboard. Thus, it's easier for termites to wipe out the existence of a dead tree or other plant material as they eat the cellulose residing inside these materials. However, wherever you live, termites' hunger for cellulose can cause serious structural deterioration. Importantly, different kinds of termites leave specific signs of their presence behind. Here are some common signs to detect their presence inside a house or any other structure.
-
Termite swarmers
-
Hollow-sounding wood
-
Blistered floors
-
Mud tubes
-
Frass or pellets
Signs of Termites' Presence
Here are some signs that reflect a hidden or visible termite infestation.
Frass: Evidence of Termites
Frass is a primary sign of termites' hidden activity, often resembling sawdust or wood shavings. Wood is home to drywood termites, where they make tunnels, eat through it, and leave behind droppings. Most frass or droppings are one millimetre long and look like mounds of pellets, appearing as black marks or a dark powdery substance. Also, they are found near the woods, like attics.
Visible Wood Damage
If any damage is visible on the surface of any wood, it's a key indicator of a termite infestation. Termites are drawn towards bare or rotted wood, especially. Subterranean termites get attracted to wet-rotted wood to prevent the wood from drying out during their nesting period.
Outer Degradation
Do investigate trees near the house for any small holes, or wood shavings, as well as discarded wings or dead termites. Once you dig around the roots below the soil line, you can notice holes and other things.
Never ignore these signs because insignificant problems can turn out to be a disaster. Instead, keep an eye around the root of the tree as severe termite damage may lead to a tree falling on the house, in the garden or backyard. Additionally, termites can also find a way inside the house due to their infestation in trees.
Wood's Bubbled Appearance
If you notice an uneven or bubbled appearance on the wood or paint in the house, it's a key indicator that the house has termites. To be sure of the termites' presence, gently tap on the suspected area. It can give you two different results. You can either hear a hollow sound or your fingernail will enter through the paint. Both of these are strong signs of termites' presence.
Clicking Sounds From Walls
Although the sounds may be coming from a boiler or AC unit, it's wise to check for any signs of termites. Termites make a clicking sound if they are living inside the wall. Soldier termites make this sound by banging their head to warn the colony of danger. Also, worker termites can make a similar sound while eating.
Flying Termites
Flying termites, also called swarmers or alates, try to look for a new colony. They are generally seen during spring after the heavy rain. They may fly near your house in this season without causing an infestation. However, it's better to check further, especially if you find their discarded wings on the property.
Bucking or Blisters
Subterranean termites can harm the subfloor, discolour the wood flooring or make a wavy appearance on the surface. If your wood flooring is buckling or has blister marks, it's an important signal of termites' presence. The damage can only be visible after they have harmed the surface below the flooring because termites like the softer subfloor wood.
Moldy Smell
Termites prefer high-moisture wood, which generally emits a mouldy smell. So, if you can smell a mouldy scent and aren't able to locate the source, reach out to the local pest control professional for an investigation, as there could be a colony of termites nearby.
