Know How To Identify Termites
Just knowing about termites isn’t enough to protect your home. As a homeowner, if you want to prevent termites from infesting your home, you have to know the basics regarding termites.
Termite Facts
The most prolific type of termite is the worker termite. Worker termites are creamy white in color, and almost have a semi-translucent body. They are the caretakers of the colony, responsible for gathering food, building tunnels and feeding other member of the colony.
Termites stay away from the light as well as open air. Rather they dig out into the soil and work their way up the wooden sections of a house by means of the mud tunnels they build. This explains why the extent of the destruction to properties remain undetermined until enough damage has been made. For some, they will only find out the existence of termites when the damaged areas begin to break, revealing worker termites. To be able to prevent considerable damage, it is best to search for signs that there is termite presence within your property.
Termite Swarmers
This type of termites are responsible in establishing new colonies. To be able to determine whether termites have come to your home, search for dark colored and winged insects flying around. Look closer if these insects have straight bodies and if they have four wings of equal length. If they do, then they are either coming or leaving your place. Either way, there are probably termites lurking somewhere.
Through the Mud Tunnels
The presence of mud tubes or tunnels is a definite sign of the presence of termites. As we already know, worker termites shun light as well as open space, so they travel from the colony to your home by means of mud tunnels. When you see what appears to be dried mud rising from the earth and sticking on wood cracks or boards, you should become worried. If poked, the mud comes off like grainy particles. In some instances, termites even build mud mounds if conditions within your property allow it.
The Damaging Effects of Termites
Sometimes it takes a long time before you find termites within your property, but when you do, a more extensive examination should be done. It is highly probable that there is more damage then what you are seeing. If left untreated, the damage will keep expanding and result in the collapse of wooden frames and surfaces.
Conditions that Encourage Termites
There are certain conditions that provide a favorable environment for termites. These conditions just encourage termites to infest your home. Any places where the wood portion of your house are in contact with the ground is a serious threat. Ground termites are partial to moist soil, and if it is near wood, then their foraging just becomes easier. Also check for any leaky pipes under and around your house. As well as any cracks in the foundation, which might invite the termites in.