Do you know how to spot the first signs of a termite infestation?
Termites can cause a lot of damage and financial woes. Although colonies can be dealt with by pest control, each year, they cause billions in damage to American homes. This is because homeowners spot them too late.
Put a stop to potential infestations by identifying these signs of termites in your Fort Lauderdale home.
Flying Ants
Flying termites should be one of the first warning signs you notice. A lot of the time, these are confused for flying ants.
These flying termites are ones that have left another nest to mate. Once they find a mate, it's their goal to make a new colony in a new location. Unfortunately for us, that's often inside or near someone's home.
Depending on species, some will swarm at night and light sources draw them in. Others swarm in daylight. One consistent fact is that all drywood termites will swarm after springtime rain.
Mud Tubes
If you have termites, you'll see pencil-sized mud tubes where the ground meets your home. Or they might be near another food source like a tree or a sunroom.
Subterranean termites nest underground and forage upwards for food. Often, that's a house structure.
These termites need certain humidity and temperatures to survive. The tubes block out any cool, dry air which turns your home into the perfect environment for them to thrive.
Visible Damage
Termites eat wood from the inside out, so by the time you notice, they've already caused a lot of damage. But there are warning signs you can look for to help spot it early.
When you inspect for termite damage, a common sign is wood sounding hollow when you tap on it. Also, look out for tiny holes and dirt in the wood.
You should also look for uneven, bubbling paint or blistered pieces of wood. If you spot these two things, it's either water damage or termites — either way, it's not good news!
Wing Shedding
Discarded wings are another sign to look out for. Once they land they will twist and break their wings off. This is because they don't need them anymore.
When mating, they seal themselves away to start a new colony. This makes them difficult to remove without pest control services.
You might find piles of wings in spider webs, or on surfaces in your home. Termite wings are all the same size, where ants have one larger pair and one smaller pair.
Termite Droppings
Subterranean termites live underground and eat up. But drywood termites nest within the wood they've infested. They create galleries and they like to make sure they stay clean. To do this, they'll make little holes to push out their excrement.
With their diet consisting of woof, their excrement is wood too. It comes out in mounds of pellets. These pellets might resemble sawdust or ground coffee. If you spot anything that looks like that and notice a musty smell, it may be drywood termites.
Watch for These Signs of Termites
Termites are an ever-present nuisance in Fort Lauderdale, so make sure you watch for these signs of termites. The quicker you notice the infestation, the easier it will be to deal with.
If you fear that you have a termite problem, contact us today at AAA Pest Control. With almost 30 years' experience, we offer the highest-quality pest control service possible. So whether you need a full pest control service, or help with DIY pest control, you are in safe hands.