4 Signs of a Termite Infestation
When it comes to bug infestations, there are few things more horrifying than termites; termite infestations can harm the integrity and the overall value of your home. There is nothing quite so terrifying as realizing that the wood of which your home consists is being slowly eaten away by these hungry insects. However, while some occasions make termite infestations quite easy to spot, others symptoms can not be so easy to spot. There are a number of signs of a termite infestation you should be aware of.
Hollow Sounding Wood
One of the problems of detecting termites is the fact that they often times do not make themselves visible to the human eye. Termites prefer dark, dank areas that are humid in their constitution. They generally do not like to feed on wood that is visible as it is subject to light and dryer climates.
The outer layer of wood may not even look deformed or rotting for some time. If you suspect termites for any reason, it is important to give your wood a few good knocks and taps, especially the lower floor boards and trim. If your wood sounds hollow, it could be the case that termites have made your home their home.
Swarmers
Believe it or not, termites can have wings. You might be confused by the presence of some of these small, winged insects that have made your home their home. Many individuals don't even assume these small insects are even termites. These are a form of termites known as "swarmers."
The presence of swarmers in your home means one of two things; they have made your home their home, or they have already established a presence in your home and are sending off swarmers to colonize other areas. Both of these phenomena are bad. If you see swarmers or discarded wings, get a hold of your local pest control representative as soon as possible.
Mud Tubes
Many insects build mud tubes in order to establish a temporary (or sometimes permanent) base of operations, as well as an easy way to transport food and supplies. Termites are no exception to this rule.
Termites will often build mud tubes on the exterior of your home in order to allow them to reach point A to point B in no time flat. You should examine the outside of your house often to see if termites have began construction on these mud tubes. Termites build mud tubes for 3 different purposes, exploring working and dropping food, and look like thin dirt tubes protruding from your home, foundation, or fence.
Cracked Paint
If you ever see cracked paint in your home, especially in areas that mainly consist of wood, it's best to give these areas a rap and a tap to see if they're hollow, as often times this is a symptom of a termite infestation. Whenever termites bury deep into the wood of constructs, this will shake and rumble the integrity of the wood itself, causing itself to crack, break and distort itself. Sometimes this will not show up as something visible to the eye as the exterior of the wood will not be affected. Usually, the first sign of a termite infestation is that the paint on the wood will begin to crack and distort itself. It's important to be vigilant about such matters and keep a close eye on the paint.
Termites are indeed a pesky beast. It is important to keep an eye out for them; hopefully, this article has given you some advice on how to be on the lookout for termites. As always, professionals will be able to tell you the severity of the issue and what to do to combat it.
