Do you know what the most common termites in the United States are? You can probably guess by the title of this article. Subterranean termites. Do you know what the most destructive termites in the United States are? Also subterranean termites. Each year, subterranean termites cost U.S. property owners billions of dollars. Do you know why? It has less to do with how much or how fast subterranean termites eat and more to do with how sneaky they are. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Subterranean Termites Are So Sneaky

Other termites can push their feces out of their tunnels and leave them scattered in sunlit locations, or cause damage to your home that is easy to see. Subterranean termites keep their feces inside their tunnels and they rarely create damage that is easy to see. This sneaky behavior allows subterranean termites to feed on man-made structures for years without being detected.

Ways You May Be Able To Detect Subterranean Termites

These termites are sneaky, but not so sneaky that you can’t detect them. You just need to know where to look and what to look for. You also need to be willing to get a little dirty and do a little work.

Subterranean termites create shelter tubes on hard surfaces. These above-ground tunnels tend to be created in dark and damp locations. If you do an inspection of a crawl space, or get underneath a deck, patio, or porch, you may be able to find these tubes. They will be made of mud. But keep in mind that a shelter tube can be as thin as a pencil and may be hidden in gaps, cracks, and voids.
Swarmer termites may become visible. This isn’t a great way to find out you have a termite infestation because a termite nest doesn’t produce winged termites until it has matured. This can take years. If you see lots of white winged insects that are about ⅜ of an inch long, crawling on your interior or exterior walls, or you uncover them in a hidden place, it is important that you recognize them as a warning sign that your property has been damaged. If you have one tiny swarmer land on your skin while you’re in your yard, it could be a warning sign of an impending infestation. Inspect every insect that lands on you. If it has wings that are shaped like an elongated teardrop, and the wings hang over the end of the insect, it is likely a termite swarmer.
Termite workers don’t show themselves, but you may be able to uncover them. Workers eat wood, cardboard, and other things that have cellulose. Inspect sources in your yard that are made from these materials, such as stumps, logs, objects made of wood, wood piles, stacked boxes, etc. Inspect where these objects touch the soil, or if you’re able, cut into the object and look for pale ant-like insects crawling around inside. Another location you may discover termite workers is where there is wood-to-soil contact on structures such as your fence, stairs, and deck. If there is damp wood or damp soil, there is an even greater chance of termite activity. Dig the soil away from the wood to inspect for termite worker activity.

The Easy Way To Protect Your Property

At Innovative Pest Control, we protect properties in Texas by installing and maintaining the Sentricon® System with Always Active. This award-winning system actively works to eliminate termite colonies as termite workers attack. Your home is protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You don’t have to do anything.

If termites attack your home, you’ll know it. Your technician will see that the bait has been taken, or termite workers and soldiers will be found in the bait stations. Either way, your technician will let you know.

Ready to take the next step?

If you want to know your property has the best protection possible, we’re ready to help you. Reach out to Innovative Pest Control today by phone, or contact us right here on our webpage. We look forward to assisting you with this important protection for your home or business.

Categories:

Termite Control,
Termite Prevention,
Termite Identification

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