Termites are a problem that can quickly ruin your property and cause a lot of damage to your property. Even if you think you have only small infestations, they can be hard to eradicate. If you suspect termites, act quickly to assess the problem and stop it from worsening. Here are seven signs that you might have an infestation in your home:
1. You Hear a Rustling Noise in Your Walls
If you notice a rustling noise in your walls, this could signify that termites are eating the wood in your walls. Termites rumble as they eat their way through your home's structure. The sound is not loud enough to wake you up but will cause vibrations if it occurs at night.
2. Cracked Paint, Sagging Floors, or Loose Tiles
Termites are responsible for most damage to your home's structure. They can eat wood, which is used in most homes. If they enter a house and begin eating it, they will cause floors to sag or tiles to loose. Around this time, your infestation problem might be big. Infestations vary in different forms. Only experts can tell how severe your case is.
3. Queen Termites Issue Eggs by the Millions.
Queen termites are the only female termites in a colony. The queen lays eggs during the warmer months and then dies off when winter comes. During this period, workers take over for her and continue to lay eggs themselves until they run out of energy or die off. If you notice any dead or dying queens in your home, you likely have some infestation going on!
4. Termite Droppings
Termites are tiny, yellowish-brown insects that look like wood. They live in colonies, with one queen termite producing eggs for the rest of the colony. The queen has wings and can fly when necessary. But most of the time, the queen lays eggs on plants or trees, where they hatch into larvae.
Termites leave tiny pellets of chewed wood fibers mixed with saliva and other digestive juices inside their mouthparts. These pellets can be found inside walls or near trees where they have been eating away at wood until it's close enough to collapse under its weight (a process known as caving). These holes form so quickly after heavy rains. You would need to look closely to see some of these droppings. It's necessary to keep an eye out for signs such as termite droppings.
5. Mud Tubes
You may notice termite mud tubes on the ground or in trees, but they are not always visible. A mud tube is a mixture of saliva and soil with a slimy consistency. Termites use these tubes to move from one place to another within their colony. They can be found anywhere: on the ground, under logs and mulch, inside your house (if you've got them!), and even inside other insects!
6. Swarms of Flying Bugs
One of the first signs of termite infestation is swarms of flying bugs. These termites have flown away from the nest, which may be due to recent rainfall or other environmental disturbance. They're not swarming bees; they're reproductive caste members called swarmers.
Swarmers are slightly larger than workers and soldiers, with bodies about 2mm long and wingspan ranging from 1mm to 3mm (about 1/8th inch). Their coloration is lighter than those of other castes'—they're cream-colored or tan instead of blackish brown or red like workers and soldiers. They also fly less often than different castes—usually only once every few hours when there's no danger present!
7. Termites Along Your Foundation
Termites are attracted to moisture, wood, food, and light. If you notice an increase in the number of termites around your home or business, they have likely gained access through a crack or crevice in the foundation.
Termite baits placed inside walls or near your home's baseboards can also cause termite infestation. Baits generally contain some insecticide, poisonous to most insects but not deadly for all termites. It may take several weeks to see any signs of pests inside your house. Make sure to seal up any cracks where they could enter from outside before calling a professional exterminator to help eliminate those unwanted guests.
Better Act Now Than Later!
There are ways to prevent the infestation from happening again, and there are steps that should be taken immediately. If, at any point during this process, you feel overwhelmed or need help with what to do next, please reach out for help from an expert who can walk you through step by step until the infestation is taken care of completely.
If you suspect termites, act quickly to assess the problem and stop it from worsening. You can avoid a costly home repair bill by calling us, the best termite control in P.A., as soon as possible after detecting signs of termite activity in your home or business.
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